Author's Note:
Hello readers who I hope are still here and interested in this story. Sorry for the lateness and this is very late. I would have dropped a note but my laptop broke. Not only that but I got my first real job unloading trucks to pay for this new one so with all the time it took me to save up and to rewrite this again (almost said fuck it lol), this is late. I've been wiped from work so I'm going to try and update once a week again. So sorry for all this bullshit and I hope you'll continue to support me and this story. That is if you're still here haha! Enjoy and thanks.
The beginning of this chapter takes place during chapters 7 and 8. Then it's the crew afterwards. Well, just go read it haha!
If you like this story, check out all of my other ones on my profile and if you are in need of a story while I get my crappy schedule organized, check out my friends list. They're all good writers and conversationalists.
Grand Line Academy (Sanji, Zoro, Brook, and Chopper)
"So no Luffy again today huh?" asked Chopper while walking with his friends towards morning homeroom. The atmosphere was more serious than usual and that was never a good thing.
"Guess so. He didn't answer his phone this morning so he'll probably be absent again" said Brook as they approached the sliding door leading to their classroom.
Zoro went to open the door when he was stopped by a student's animated shriek. The rest of his friends abruptly stopped as well upon hearing a deafening "Ehh!"
"She did!? Yeah the picture is of her in a BIKINI!? Look, this is it! NO WAY!" screamed multiple male voices behind the door.
Sanji's nostrils flared at the thought with his mouth, morphing into a clearly aroused comportment. He hastily opened the door, nearly ripping it from its hinges before yelling "SWIMSUIT-CHWAN! YOU'RE MINE!"
The adolescent boys from inside the room turned in terror towards Sanji with sickened expressions. In the hand of the boy closest to Sanji was a postcard with a picture of Dadan in a skimpy bikini. She was posing seductively towards the camera flashing all of her "goods" which left little to be imagined causing Sanji's eyes to widen in horror. The room and hallway now deathly quiet.
His skin turned pale as a cold sweat ran down his chin. His lips were left hanging gaped in shock with his breath hitched in his throat. A blueish green shade found its way to his face next before the blonde cook's mouth engorged like a frog's.
Running with purpose past his friends and into the hallway, Sanji opened a window and hurled what looked like a heavy breakfast from his mouth.
Meanwhile (Usopp)
"Aren't you going to be late to homeroom, Usopp?" asked a blonde girl who was walking side by side with the long nosed teen. She stared at him expectant on his answer.
"Don't worry Kaya. I'd gladly be late everyday if it were for you" he smoothly replied as they crossed the courtyard.
"That's so swe-.." began the blonde before a gallon of throw up landed violently on Usopp.
"KYAAA!" Usopp screamed as he began running around frantically, trying to rub his body clean on any surface he could find. "Is this puke!? Why did this happen!? And how!?" he screamed before rubbing his face in a fern making Kaya chuckle.
"You were almost smooth" she thought before walking away.
"Kaya wait! This little thing doesn't bother me. I'm a great ma-…Oh the smell" Usopp screamed trying to rebound from his bad luck before gaging at the smell of his current predicament.
"That girly scream…. That sounds like Usopp" said a confused Zoro looking to his friends for conformation in the hallway two flights up.
"What's an Usopp?" seriously asked Brook.
"That's mean" responded Chopper. "They're a sensitive but now smelly species" casually added the group medic leading to him and Brook heartily laughing.
"What's all this noise about?" asked Franky as he walked up to the classroom. He took note of a sickly looking Sanji before he poked his head into the room. Looking around from face to face, his eyes set on Dadan's picture.
"Apparently she went on summer vacation early and sent this picture as proof" stated the permanently scarred and clearly shaken boy holding the picture.
"Da….Dada….Bikini….." was all Franky could dizzily stutter before fainting in the hallway.
"Franky! Someone get the school nurse. DOCTOR!" Chopper yelled while running around an unconscious Franky whose arms and legs were sprawled open as he lay on his back. Chopper made it a point to circle around his friend's downed form as he frantically waited for help.
"That would be you though, Chopper" chimed in Vivi with an entertained smirk as she and Robin approached the scene. "We'd better take our seats everyone. Class will be starting soon." The blackette calmly said as she walked past the group and towards her seat. Her and Zoro exchanged smiles before he followed after her.
"Oi moss head, shouldn't we help Franky up?" asked Sanji who looked to be in much better shape. "Nah leave him. Unless you wanna lug him to his seat?" Zoro responded.
Sanji looked toward his downed friend and then to his seat towards the back of the now packed classroom. He did another double take, weighing his options before shrugging. "Screw it, he'll be fine."
The crew walked into the room and shut the door, leaving an unconscious Franky in the hallway to dream about the horrors of Dadan on vacation.
Lunchtime
"Wait! So you're telling me Usopp dragged me into the room because you bastards left me in the hallway unconscious?!" Franky asked slamming his fists on the table as the crew sat at their usual lunch table.
"Yup" was all Sanji offered as he stirred his milk absentmindedly. This counted as everyone else's answer apparently since no one really seemed to be paying attention to the hysterical mechanic.
"Yeah I saved you" Usopp declared as he puffed out his chest and put his foot on the table in a conquering pose. "The great Usopp!"
"And that all happened after Sanji puked on him?! I probably got chunks on me while he was lugging me around. Usopp, that's so gross bro" complained the blunette with fake tears coming out of his eyes.
"Oi be more appreciative! Next time I'll leave your ass on the floor." Usopp scolded as he chopped the crying teen over the head.
"I wish you had! SMELLY NOSE-KUN!" continued to complain Franky.
"Wah! Nickname?! Not funny Franky." complained Usopp making Brook and Chopper laugh. "Oi shut it" yelled the 'hero' trying to silence his laughing friends. They were just happy that they had a name for their new "species." Whatever that meant.
"Hey dumbasses. We've got serious things to worry about." Zoro said catching their attention.
"If this isn't serious, then why are you all sitting so far away?" Usopp asked noticing the crew had isolated him to the opposite corner of the table.
"Smells aside, Luffy's been absent for three days now. Anybody hear from him?" Zoro asked ignoring Usopp's question and reaction to how Zoro started his sentence.
The crew looked around at one another without anyone saying anything. "I'll take that as a no" Zoro said crossing his arms in thought. "Well he hasn't been practicing at the dojo near his house. I asked the master. And he hasn't been to my family's restaurant which is even scarier." Sanji informed.
"Damn that's serious. He eats there almost every day" said Franky realizing the severity of the situation.
"I'm more shocked that he hasn't texted the group chat we have. He's always sending funny animal videos." Usopp chimed in.
Zoro shivered at the mention of it. "It's still weird how much he likes those videos. They're so random."
"There's nothing strange or random about a baby penguin failing to ice-skate" Robin said deathly serious.
"Baby Penguins?" inquired Vivi confused. Chopper quickly pulled up the most recent video they were talking about and showed it to her. "They can't even stand up on their skates! And they call themselves penguins! Yohohoh. HAHAHA" hysterically laughed Chopper and Brook.
"Where does Luffy even find these?" Usopp asked catching his breath.
"Hehe" awkwardly laughed Vivi realizing how weird the video was. "Idiots" Zoro thought because of how worked up his friends got. "Dumb video. Turning Robin on me. I'll destroy you one day."
"I think we need to think of this from Nami's perspective a little. She didn't seem like the kind of person to hurt her friends like this voluntarily. Maybe there's a history we don't know about? Or a reason at least" Vivi chimed in earning stares from the group.
Zoro was particularly intrigued by this concept. "What would be the point of her doing this on purpose anyway? Is she that sick that she'd create pain just to laugh at her craftsmanship? If so, she really didn't seem like the type. So all the pieces aren't there?" Zoro was drawn back from his thoughts by Sanji standing up.
"Whatever it is, we should meet at the family restaurant today. To plan for what to do with Luffy, I mean" said Sanji as he stood up with his plate and returned it to the drop off pile.
"Is the business failing that much without Luffy?" teased a smiling Zoro.
"Shut it moss head. It was just an idea. Shitty bastard" Sanji complained as the rest of the crew stacked their plates as lunch ended.
"Then that just leaves this Arlong guy" thought Zoro who was the last person to leave the lunchroom.
Zoro and Robin (Two periods later)
"Nami's been absent for three days too" Zoro pointed out to Robin while he looked around ancient history class acting astute to the lack of a certain orange haired girl. "If she wanted to hurt us, she wouldn't be ducking us. Unless she thinks we would've attacked her for pay back? No, I doubt that."
"Can you blame her? I know I wouldn't want to risk seeing Luffy after all of that" Robin whispered to Zoro who was sitting in the desk next to her. She was holding her cheek with one hand with her legs crossed for comfort.
"She doesn't wanna risk seeing me. That tart hurt Luffy and that's unacceptable" the green haired swordsman seethed tightening his fist effectively snapping his pencil. "But maybe…."
Robin turned her head from the lesson in time to notice this and; blowing her hair out of her face, got Zoro's attention. "Stop thinking about them for a second, will you? We haven't really been alone since the amusement park. This is the one class only we share" the black haired woman said seductively trying to de-stress her 'boyfriend.' Her head titled in a playful manner as her brown eyes met his.
"You call history class alone time? Buahaha" Zoro laughed earning a scowl from their teacher who quickly decided to just continue with her lesson.
"Well if you don't want to take advantage of this time together, then I guess we can just tell everyone we're together. That way, it won't matter where we are" Robin negotiated with a pout.
"With things as they are now, we just can't. Jeez woman. When this Nami mess blows over, got it?" Zoro said rejecting the idea that was clearly already discussed.
If the group found out about them with Luffy now MIA, who knows what would happen. "The group needs its anchor for something that big" he thought before turning to Robin.
"Fine!" Robin finished crossing her arms and turning her attention back to the lesson. Zoro gawked at her childish reaction.
"Tsk. Woman are so difficult" he thought before his hand shot up. "Oi Teach, I gotta piss" he ruggedly asked without even being called on. This caused everyone's attention to go towards the swordsman including Robin and the unpleased looking teacher.
"How many times do I have to tell you to call me Ms. Tsuru? Jeez today's youth have no manners" the elderly teacher scolded.
Zoro scowled at her answer. "Whatever hag. I have to go. I feel it leaking…." He said with his eyes closed, quite content with his threat to….. 'spray.'
"Just go" Tsuru said disgusted. She turned her attention back to the board along with Robin who assumed it was just Zoro being an idiot. The few students who happened to still be looking his way noticed him as he stood with a grin.
The green haired teen took a step over to Robin's desk and planted a kiss on Robin's unsuspecting lips. The onlookers went slack jaw at the display. Robin was the most shocked as she returned the kiss only to stare at Zoro stunned after.
"It's hard for me to wait on you, Robin. But it's worth it" he whispered increasing Robin's blush. Zoro then turned to the front of the class, got the hall pass and then left the room. It was now as silent as an empty cemetery with the students still baffled at what they saw.
Robin just put her head down to hide her blush and extremely wide grin. "Did he do that so the whole class would see? Either he's stupid enough to think this gossip won't get to the crew or he plans on it. Regardless, the idiot can be smooth when he wants to be" she thought with yet another blush.
Meanwhile in the Hallway
"Man, was that intense. I almost didn't make it" panted a crimson faced Zoro with his back against the classroom door. "That was so embarrassing" he added under his breath leading to a smile. He started walking to the bathroom unsure as to how he pulled that off.
After getting lost but finally being able to drain his system, Zoro's mind was again filled with thoughts of his Captain. It wasn't like him to avoid his friends. Usually when he's upset, like when Shanks left, he would just surround himself with his crew.
After his adoptive father's disappearance, Luffy stayed at Zoro's house for a week and made sure that all the other guys were there. He made sure they were always together save for the bathroom, until he was ready to go home to an empty house. Zoro didn't appreciate the extra crowd in his normally quiet sanctuary but he understood that it was necessary.
Zoro smirked at the memories before his eyes steeled with resolve. He took a moment's pause before he looked down at what was in his hand. "But what to do with you?"
Quietly, the swordsman walked up to his history class and slide the pass under the door. "Hell, Luffy's worth getting into a little trouble" he thought before he heard, "What is that? My pass...? That bastard isn't shirking my class halfway through!" from the other side of the door.
"Shit" Zoro said making a mad sprint for the window. He got it open in time to see his teacher fling the classroom door open. "I returned the pass, didn't I? Be appreciative" Zoro said to her before jumping out of the window and out into the courtyard. The moment his feet hit the ground, he was off and running as far from the school as possible.
Ms. Tsuru stared in shock and anger at her pupil but decided to turn back to her class full of kids who actually wanted to learn. "It's not like I won't see and reprimand him tomorrow" she grumpily thought.
"Hey, at least he returned the pass" some guy in the front said with a smile to the angry teacher as she walked into the room.
"Detention today after school" she said plainly while walking past his desk and back to her lesson.
"Whaa! You can't be serious!?" No answer.
"This is bullshit!" the kid finished his protest as his smile dropped from his face. Sadly for him though, his argument fell on deaf ears. Robin just chuckled and decided to let Zoro do what it is that Zoro does.
After all, that idiot's going to need someone to take notes for him. Robin thought this as she dotted one of her i's with a little heart along with a smile and light blush.
(Zoro)
Zoro walked up to the house with purpose. He knew he wasn't leaving without making any progress, not even if Luffy tried to use force. He got to the front door and looked around, noticing that the neighborhood was quiet. Most likely since work and school were still in session.
Taking a deep breath, the swordsman knocked on Luffy's door only to hear no answer. No sounds were coming from the house at all. He knocked again but still, nothing. Not a shuffle of the feet to answer the door nor a television stagnant in static. Just silence.
He felt a pang of fear slice his heart before he raised his voice, "Luffy!? You home, Captain!?" He banged on the door once more, now harder and waited for an answer. Still no answer. "This bastard will be the death of me" he thought before he took a step back.
With a quick look around to check to see if he was still alone outside, Zoro kicked Luffy's door in with crash. "Oi you home. I broke your door" the greenette called being brutally honest. He slipped his shoes off and walk up the step leading to the house.
The house was quite open with the kitchen and living room visible from the main entrance. But Zoro had no need for that as he walked into the building and straight up the stairs. "Yo. Luffy!? You didn't off yourself did you? That wouldn't be cool man" he antagonized before getting to Luffy's room.
"He probably won't mind. I wouldn't want him to get out of bed, now would I" he thought with a grin before he kicked his bedroom door in too. "I'm on a roll today" he laughed before taking a step into the dark room.
His instincts kicked in and his eyes darted to every corner of the room. All he noticed was a ball of covers on Luffy's bed which could only be Luffy. Sighing at the sight, Zoro began to walk towards the covers.
"Oi Luffy. I know Nami hurt you and all but you've gotta leave this room. It's depressing for one" he said noting the sheer darkness and silence the room possessed.
No immediate answer. Zoro was about to say something else when he heard a groan followed by a massive grumble. "So you're alive!?" Zoro yelled as he ripped the covers off of his friend's half sleeping form. The sight beneath the covers was humorous for the green haired swordsman but he knew to stifle his laughter.
Luffy laid there wearing only a pair of blue denim shorts. His hair was strewn messier than it had ever been. The amount of dried drool on his face could have filled a small swimming pool if still wet. The heartbroken teen simply sat up, staring at his friend with glossed over and crust filled eyes. His expression was lost and he looked to be staring through Zoro rather than at him.
"Hey Zoro. It's been a while. I don't really know how long but it seems like forever. A week? A month?" Luffy inquired causing a frown to mar his lieutenant's face.
"Three days Luffy. It's not a month or nothing but three days is still too long. You gotta stop this."
Silence. Luffy sat on the bed with his legs crossed as he absorbed his friend's words. He took a shaky breath before he responded. "I will. I just need a little more time. To move on and to forget."
Zoro gawked at him unsure as to what to say. He thought about the situation quickly and about what he wondered today. He decided to start off small and work his way up. "Dadan dropped off a picture of her in a swimsuit. She went on vacation early and it even made Sanji puke on Usopp. That was pretty funny so there's that. Haven't seen Nami around school either" he reported trying to get some kind of emotion out of him. "
Luffy answered with a monotone "Oh yeah" as he stared at the floor. Zoro pressed on. "You've healed up nicely in three days. Can't even tell what happened anymore."
"What happened? Nami tricked me into getting jumped by her boyfriend and his gang. I don't feel 'healed up'" Luffy reminded feeling angrier and angrier as this small talk conversation went on.
"Look I know you're pissed but I've been thinking. Maybe this is all Arlong's fault. Nami didn't seem like the type to do what she did." The swordsman could feel himself getting frustrated as well when Luffy averted his gaze.
"Who cares" he answered coldly.
"Who cares!? Luffy, we have to get this guy. He's an asshole that needs to get taught a lesson. Besides, Nami is our friend." Zoro pleaded hoping to snap his friend out of this funk.
"She isn't our friend. No friend would set up her precious people the way I was set up. They're probably laughing about it right now" the blackette fired back with hurt evident in his voice and his words, cracking.
Zoro was taken aback not just because of Luffy's sudden outburst of emotion but also because he realized he had thought the same things about the situation before he sat down to really think about it. And there's no way Luffy was thinking with a rational head.
"So you're going to leave her to be with that psycho? Can't you see that there's more to this than we know."
"It's not our problem. She doesn't want help. She's made that clear. Besides, if she wanted help, she would have asked" Luffy said with a defeated tone while his hands dropped to lay at his sides.
This got under Zoro's skin unlike anything else Luffy said before. "Maybe she can't ask! Ever think of that!? And since when do you turn your back on those in need? That's not you man. That guy isn't the paradigm I want to follow. That guy isn't a friend of mine."
Now Luffy was angry. He rose from the bed and his eyes, filled with anger met with Zoro's. "So what do we do, huh!? Go fight some guy that we know nothing about. Besides the fact that he's a piece of trash, where is he? How do we find him? Ask Nami? Do you know where to find her? And if we do find her, do we ask and risk him finding out that she helped us? So he can hurt her more for telling us? And that's even if Nami wants to tell us. We can't win like that!"
The room went silent as the two men tried to burn holes in one another with their stares. Neither one moved their gaze as the argument seemed to be at a standstill. That is, if Zoro hadn't remember something that could prove to be vital.
"Yeah that might happen. But you wouldn't be yourself if you didn't try. We can go to Nojiko and ask her" the swordsman offered as tempers seemed to drop significantly. "Vivi and Robin got her number from the field trip. We can find out everything we need to know and take this fucker down" he added.
Luffy stared at him before looking down at his feet in disgust. "How could I just give up like that" the blackette thought to himself. "What kind of man am I? What kind of friend?"
Tears began to form in Luffy's eyes before they started pouring out in streams. "I'm such an asshole!" he yelled as he plopped down on his bed. He couldn't help but feel like he was worse than Arlong.
"I almost abandoned my friend. Someone who needs saving. Who am I?!" he cried as he sat there, sickened by himself.
"You're my role model, Luffy. And my best friend. You've always done right by your friends regardless of your own struggles. And it's my job to show you how to do that when you finally break down" Zoro said as he placed a hand on his friends shoulder. "Besides, if you lose your way, then you're a pretty shitty role model.
"But you're the one who always gets lost" Luffy said through choked tears.
"Oi don't insult me when I'm trying to help. Asshole!" Zoro scolded earning a small laugh from Luffy.
Luffy looked up with his first, face splitting grin in seemingly forever. His face was covered in snot and tears but at least he was smiling. "Who's got the bestest friend ever" Luffy asked as he stood up and hugged Zoro.
Zoro returned the hug with a few pats on Luffy's back before he said, "Don't get all sappy on me. I don't want to get snot on me" he teased as they parted. They shared grins before Luffy went over to the broken end table and put his hat on.
"Call the crew" he said before noticing that Zoro was already on the phone with Robin.
"Yeah, text me Nojiko's address. No I'm not interested in her! Have the crew meet their after school. I'll bring Luffy. Yeah I got through to him. Have Usopp bring his bee-bee gun. Just trust me. Ok bye." Zoro said on the phone before hanging up.
"Robin being openly jealous?" Luffy asked in shock.
"Yeah, well we're actually kind of together. Since the field trip actually" Zoro informed bashfully.
"WAH! Are you sure I wasn't gone for a month? There's no way you made a move so soon" Luffy teased.
"Hey wise guy, why don't you clean yourself up? They've still got last period before they meet us and you're….. gross" he deadpanned making Luffy smell himself.
"Now I know it's been a month and not three days" Luffy said as his nose scrunched up from his body odor. He laughed a little before walking to the bathroom to clean up.
"We're coming for you Nami" Luffy thought as the bathroom door shut behind him.
"It's about time" Zoro thought as he went to Luffy's living room and plopped down on his couch. "I overthought things way too much for the past 3 days" he continued before he let himself doze off.
Nojiko's/Nami's House
"You're late!" yelled Usopp as he stood up from the curb. The rest of the crew was behind him as a sleepy Zoro and refreshed Luffy approached.
"Sorry sorry. Zoro dozed off on the couch and wouldn't wake up" Luffy laughed as he slapped Zoro's arm playfully.
"Yeah I fell asleep but Luffy took forever sprucing in the bathroom. Like a little girl" Zoro fired back.
"That's why you snore like a bear." "You snore too" they argued before they heard Brook and the rest of the crew laughing. They looked over to them confused.
"It's good to have you back Luffy" Franky said with a smile.
"I'm not happy you're back. Bastard! Making me worry for three days" cried Chopper as Usopp joined in. They all hugged it out and were ready to go and knock on Nojiko's door.
"You guys should have seen how bad Luffy smelled. Those three days weren't kind to him" Zoro teased making Sanji chuckle slightly.
"Oi bastard. That's low. I'm fighting you after Arlong" Luffy said in a serious tone. Zoro knew he was kidding though so he just answered with "I'll be ready."
Luffy knocked a few times while the crew crowded on the same step. It got so bad that Usopp got pushed down a step. Chopper would have also been displaced if not for Robin keeping him there.
"You bullies" whined Usopp as he stomped his foot. "There wasn't enough room idiot" Sanji defended.
"Yeah but why me?" he continued to whine. "Take one for the team" Chopper said with a sly smirk making Usopp freak out.
"You bastard how can you betray me! You're just lucky you have Robin!" he yelled before the door swung open to reveal a blue haired woman. She was smiling and that smile only grew when she saw who was at her door.
"I knew it was you guys. Heard you from way inside" she laughed as she leaned her body against the door frame. "What can I do for you?"
"Sorry some of us were loud" Sanji said looking at Usopp who had stopped yelling. "Oi!" he yelled in protest making Nojiko chuckle at their antics.
"We need to talk to you about something important. Can we come in?" Luffy asked seriously. Nojiko studied him for a moment before stepping aside to let them in.
The crew gathered around the kitchen, some sitting and some standing. She brought out sandwiches and orange juice for everyone in case they wanted any. The mood of the room said otherwise so Nojiko eventually sat at the head with Luffy in the seat across from her.
"So? What's up? Nami's not home by the way" the bluenette said while resting her head on one of her palms. Her eyes never left Luffy. Something told her he was going to be doing most of the speaking.
"Phew! What a relief" Zoro said gaining everyone's attention. "Lucky us. My plan to do all of this would have been ruined if she were here. Talk about awkward" he chuckled before noticing the look Luffy was giving him.
"What, too soon? My bad hehe" Zoro apologized awkwardly while scratching his cheek.
"Anyway Nojiko, I want you to tell us about Arlong. Anything you know about him and his relationship with Nami" Luffy asked without realizing how much he was prying.
Nojiko stared at him, shocked that he even knew his name. Taking a moment and a deep breath, the older sister spoke calmly. "Although this is a personal matter, I'll tell you all since you're friends with Nami. Maybe you can get through to her. God knows, I can't."
Nojiko started from the beginning and told the crew everything she knew about Arlong and his relationship with Nami. The crew sat their awestruck as they listened.
"So yeah, he hits her and who knows what else. But she won't leave him. I've got no idea why. I'd hoped that you guys could change her but she's still with him" Nojiko finished with the room now awkwardly quiet.
"There has to be some reason though. Right? I mean Nami isn't the kind of person that would put up with that. She likes maps and topography so why would she let herself be kept prisoner like that?" Luffy asked in a begging manner. He was hoping someone had an answer for him.
"Oh. You think you know Nami. I'm her sister and I don't even get her. If she wants to be treated like that, then it's a lesson she needs to learn on her own" Nojiko said as she lit a cigarette.
"I know her" Luffy muttered under his breath while he sat back in his chair with his arms crossed.
Nojiko heard this so she cleared her throat after taking a puff of her cigarette and spoke clearly. "They've been hanging out recently in the next town over. Nami told me that before she left to go there. She's there now I think."
Luffy's face was shadowed by his hat as he sat there. The crew watched him waiting to see his reply. He looked up with a mix of determination and frustration as he tightened his fists in anxious anticipation.
"Give us the address please. We'd be in your debt" Luffy said as he bowed his head.
The crew was more shocked at this than Nami's history with Arlong. Luffy bowing his head to someone!? And an adult at that. Never.
"I don't know what you're planning but-….." Nojiko thought before she got up from her chair. She came back with a piece of paper and a pen. Writing down an address, she gave it to Luffy and said "Good luck getting through to her."
"It's time we go then" Zoro said as he and the rest of the crew gathered themselves. They were about to leave when Luffy said, "But first." and began to chow down on the food and drink on the table.
"It's been three days. I'm starving!" Luffy said with four sandwiches al fighting for space in his mouth. Nojiko laughed at this but Luffy's crew just face faulted.
"You were almost cool"thought Zoro as he sweatdropped. Sanji and Franky shook their heads in silent argument. Why did they follow such an idiot?
"Can't fight on an empty stomach. Yosh!" Luffy said with a laugh. "I'm coming for you Nami. And I will save you. I'll set you free."
Next Town Over
"Hey guys you don't honestly think we can take these guys, do you. They're like, a real gang. And I have that, I don't want to have my faced bent in syndrome. *Cough it's already taking affect" Usopp acted as they got off the bus together.
The whole crew had gone in support of their Captain since not all of them were fighters. Nojiko was left home so it was up to them to save Nami.
"Don't worry. As long as we have each other's backs, we'll be fine" Luffy comforted with a mature smile. "Besides, I broke one of their guy's arm. So you can take that one" he added with a laugh that gave Usopp goosebumps.
"Is that why you told me to bring the bee bee gun?! What's this thing going to do" the sniper cried as he looked to the one who told him to bring it.
"Improvise" Zoro offered before focusing off into the distance. "I'm gonna get killed today" Usopp finished as he hung his head in acceptance of his fate.
"I'll take the guy with you man. I have my heavy tool belt because I was tricking out Vivi's new range rover. Super!" Franky yelled just thinking of his automotive masterpiece.
Usopp scoffed at Franky's upbeat attitude before pointing his pointer finger at the blue haired teen. "Then take him on yourself. Why should I experience bodily harm?"
"Oi don't dump all of your problems on me!" Franky yelled back.
Meanwhile, Sanji couldn't help himself from stare at the three wooden bushido practice swords strapped onto his green haired rival's belt. "Oi seaweed hair, are you going to be able to fight with those? I figured we were kidding when we talked about your three wooden swords" the cook inquired slightly worried about his frenemy's wellbeing.
"I'll be fine. Focus on taking care of yourself, shitty cook" Zoro answered with a quick glance over towards Sanji before he began to concentrate on the road ahead again. "I have to focus" Zoro thought minutes before the group stopped in front of a warehouse.
"Is this the place?" Robin asked taking notice to the construction being done. Scaffolding could be seen everywhere with danger tape, covering every square inch of the buildings outside. "Creepy" Chopper added as he hid behind Robin with his teeth chattering.
Luffy looked at the paper Nojiko had given him and then the surrounding buildings. He recalled the street signs he saw on his the way here. When he was satisfied and sure that this was the right place, he began walking towards the entrance.
"Oi Luffy, hold up. Let's make a plan" Brook called out as the rest of the crew ran to catch up to the anxious blackette. Luffy stopped in front of the metal door and took a quick breath before exhaling just as quick
"Zoro I'm taking a page out of your book" he said confusing everyone but a smirking greenette. Luffy raised his leg, placed his foot against the door before reeling it back and kicking it off the hinges. The giant metal door which looked like it could have been on a submarine was launched inside the heavily populated building; clattering and causing a few bangs and fearful screams.
Luffy took a step inside followed by his crew, the contents of the room now coming into view. Arlong was sitting in the middle of the room in what looked like a king's throne chair. Next to him on the floor was a tear stained, slightly bruised Nami. Around him is what frightened a certain long nosed teen the most though. At least fifty overly muscular men with wood and metal weapons littered the hideout.
"I'm not gonna make it" Usopp muttered sadly. He took special note to the fact that none of the hoodlums looked happy that Luffy kicked in their door. In fact, they looked out right pissed. To the point of killing a person or so Usopp thought.
"I guess it was a pretty nice door. Maybe if I put it back and back away slowly-…" Usopp thought as he began to calculate an escape plan.
"Luffy!?" Nami gasped in surprise as she was able to discern her friend through her tear filled eyes.
"ARLONG! I'm here to kick your ass and get my Nami back!" Luffy screamed as it echoed through the warehouse. Nami's eyes teared even more when she heard this but Arlong wasn't amused. In fact, the look he was giving Luffy made it seem like murder was easy to commit. And he was about to prove it. About eight times.
Author's Note 2: Please drop a review and let me know if you enjoyed this or not. I might be a little rusty so let me know about that too haha. Enjoy your summer and I look forward to seeing you all next chapter!
What happened? You don't like cliffhangers? I'm an asshole right haha? But hey it makes for excellent entertainment. So I hope you were entertained and stay tuned for the next chapter!
Edited-8/18/16
