Chasing dreams: Chapter 10

Summary: During the encounter with Admiral Aokiji, he leaves Luffy with a parting gift that shocks the Monkey greatly. "No matter what you do in the future, Straw Hat Luffy, take care of her and give her the one thing I could never give her…happiness…" The cards of destiny are changing. But to what extent?

XXXX

2 days after the party

The StrawHat crew were on fourth to last day at Water 7 with Luka happening to disappear early in the mornings and returned late at night utterly tired. Though whenever questioned, she would just shrug them off and go hang around Sanji. Zoro noticing that those two were getting closer as the days passed and wondered what was up with their relationship, considering Sanji never went into his womanizing fit around her or did his noodle dance as often as he did around the other females. It almost as if the two had a mutual bond or trust that for some unknown reason ticked Zoro off as she would no longer pay attention to him or tease him as much as she previously did. Instead being out all morning, playing with Chopper, planning with Nami, sparring with Luffy or with the damned pervy-cook. It made Zoro frustrated and annoyed to no-end that he woke up just in time to catch Luka leaving the morning and made her stay in the damn building.

Both sitting across from each other at the kitchen table with Luka asking. "It's 5 in the morning. You should sleep considering how much you sleep already."

"I'm perfectly fine." He lied yet Luka saw through him and sighed. Moving from her seat and over to his side. Grabbing his hand and led him over to the wall next to the bunk beds and sat down. Sitting Zoro between her legs and brought him down to lie against her chest and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, holding him comfortably. "What?"

"Go to sleep. You look like shit." She muttered. "You'll feel me leave and wake up, yeah." Zoro grunting and did what she said and fell into a blissful daze as she used on hand to massage his scalp and hum a soft tune. Chopper having heard Luka and woke up momentarily and crawled over to her to nestle into her soft hair. Luka unknowingly falling asleep too as she kept on getting up early to meet Usopp and coming back late at night after practising with her abilities and testing her range with the sharpshooter.

It was a few hours later when Luka rose to the sound of chatter and saw that Chopper was at the table eating, no longer on her head with everybody else up as well except Zoro who was sound asleep in-between her legs. "What time is it?"

Sanji coming over and held out a cup of tea for her as she gratefully took the item and took a refreshing sip. Sanji tusking at the snoring swordsman and answered Luka. "It's almost 11. Marimo woke up 10 minutes ago before going back to sleep. Baka." He muttered as he wanted to kick the Marimo across the city but his attention was caught by the sounds of a parade…better yet the Franky family, minus Franky. All moving outside as Luka woke up Zoro and followed after. Though he kept a close eye on her encase she did a runner.

The Franky family showed the StrawHats their new bounties:

'Straw Hat' Monkey D Luffy - 300,000,000

'Pirate Hunter' Roronoa Zoro – 120,000,000

'Demon Child' Nico Robin – 80,000,000

'Black Leg' Sanji – 77,000,000

'King of Snipers' Sogeking – 30,000,000

'Cat Burglar' Nami – 16,000,000

'Cotton Candy Lover' Chopper – 50

"What's this?" Luka asked as she picked up the one bounty that was flipped upside down as the Franky Family tossed them to the ground. "EEHH?! I-impossible!" Luka hollered as her hands shook with Luffy looking over her shoulder and whistled. "I made extra sure not to be seen. What the hell?! I want a refund!" tossing the paper to the ground for the rest to see.

Robin giggled and pointed out. "You can't get a refund on a bounty, Luka. Though your price is very impressive for your first."

"Are you kidding?! Nami and Sogeking's first bounty are impressive. That's a load of crap!" Luka pointing to the poster dispassionately as Luffy couldn't help but laugh and pat her back.

"Welcome to the life of a pirate, sis." He congratulated.

Her bounty picture was in complete contrast to Luffy's. The wind blew her bangs over her cold chocolate eyes as she had blood dripping from her head and lip with her lower face being covered with her forearm that held a bloodied knife. The background filled with defeated marines and agents, giving her a deadly aura much like Zoro's picture.

"I swear I can get a refund or something." Luka grumbled as the script read that she was a threat to the World Government and holds deadly secrets that could destroy the Organisation that she had no idea what they were.

Chopper picked up her bounty and read aloud. "'Weapons Princess' Monkey D Luka – 175,000,000." Chopper nodded before his eyes bulged out. "EHH?!"

"EXACTLY!" Luka voiced. "This poster is absolutely ridiculous."

Sanji grew out of his funk about his bounty and laughed as he pointed out to Zoro. "She's got more on her head than you…and on her first round."

"And you too, shitty-cook." Zoro backfired as Sanji resumed his sulking. Honestly surprised at her bounty and how she reacted. His eyes catching Luka sulking as Luffy teased her and made her turn an interesting shade of red that made Zoro smirk. Feeling a stirring motion in his belly before is dissipated and blinked several times wondering if he was sick or something.

The Franky Family urged Luffy to take Franky, since he is now a wanted man and made a great asset to Luffy during Enies Lobby with a bounty of 44,000,000 nicknamed the 'Cyborg'. They also revealed that he is a son of a pirate and asked Luffy once again.

XXXX

The StrawHats are soon-ly presented with their new ship 3 days after the bounty incident, with Sanji and Luka still moping about their posters, as they see a brigantine twice the size of Merry, with many features like specially designed sails, a courtyard, and a locked fridge. Franky nowhere to be seen since he went back to the Franky House. The cyborg wanting to stay in Water 7, but also wants to go with the StrawHats but he knows he will say yes to Luffy if Luffy asks him to join, Franky finding it better if he just hid from them till they leave.

However, the Franky Family trying to urge him to join Luffy, and steal his favorite speedo right from his body. Resulting in a half-naked Franky chasing them through Water 7 and a screaming crowd to get his underwear back. Franky not giving up his chase till he was caught by Zoro, Sanji, and Chopper, and put into Franky Special cannon that fired him near to the Kings of All Beasts with Franky looking over to Luffy who was currently holding his underwear. Luffy telling Franky if he wants his underwear back, he will have to join his crew.

Franky refused Luffy at first with Robin uses her devil fruit power to grab and begin to crush his testicles, causing uproar from both sides. Franky uses this pain to hide the outpouring of emotion he feels as everyone tried and succeeds in convincing the stubborn cyborg to go with the Straw Hats. Meanwhile, Zoro and Sanji rush to the scene stating that Garp is on the other side of the island. Despite the pain, he continues to refuse until Iceburg reminding him that his dream has not yet been fulfilled. His dream ship was built, yes, but his dream itself was to see his ship around the world and in many adventures. Franky finally agreed and joins the straw hats as he says goodbye to his family.

Picking up Usopp as soon as he apologised and escaped Garp's cannon meteorite in the nick of time. Naming their ship, Thousand Sunny. Luka giving Usopp as discreet gloating look that had him embarrassed about her being right about apologizing and moved to the end of the ship as she waved goodbye to her grandfather as he saluted her and spotted a dark-skinned lanky man on a beach chair giving her an odd look with a smile and decided to wave at him to and got a wave back. Seeing him mouth. 'Be safe'. Leaving her confused and was too far away to reply.

Unnamed Island: Smoker and Tashigi

Smoker narrowed his eye at one of the bounty posters his right-hand-woman handed him and asked her seriously. "Is this bounty real, Tashigi?"

"Hai, Smoker-san. Straight from Marine HQ. I didn't know StrawHat had a sister, sir." She replied as she put on her glasses and took a good look at the young brunette. "Rumors say that the higher-ups want her turned in just as much as they want Dragon's head because she has secrets that could potentially destroy the World Government."

"Hmm. What I'd like to know is how she is alive after 10 years?" He voiced and lightly traced the photo with soft eyes. "Right now, rank is the most important; Tashigi and then…then we'll crush the StrawHats in the New World."

Tashigi's eyes widened at her leader's delicate look, having never seen it on him before and stuttered out. "H-Hai, Smoker-san."

Foosha Village:

Makino cried out in delight as she showed the bounty to everybody in the bar. "Look everyone! It's true! It's really true! The girl on the Den-Den Mushi was really her!" The mayor and all in the bar crying out in delight to know that their devilish angel was alive and well in Luffy's care. "SHE'S ALIVE!"

"KANPAI!"

Island in the New World:

"PPSSSHHTT!" A stunned red-head spat all his sake towards his crew and he rubbed his eye and even pinched himself to see if he was dreaming. "O-Oi B-Beckmann!" he called out.

"What is it Capitan?" The first mate asked as he moved over to his leader and began choking on air. "N-NA-NANI?!"

"Buahahahah check it out guys! It's my son's first bounty!" a blonde man with dreadlocks pointed out as he held up the poster of Sogeking. "I'd recognize that nose from a mile away. Just like his mother."

"SHANKS! BECKMANN! YASOPP!" the three men all heard their names being called and faced the voice and saw Lucky Roo heading towards them with the morning paper. "Look what Luffy and his crew did to Enies Lobby!" tossing the paper down for them to see and saw the destruction caused by such a small crew.

Shanks gulped and looked to the bounty in hand. "So s-she's really alive…and with a 175,000,000 bounty too. I'm so glad." Shanks grinned as he hid the tears with his only hand, bounty and all. "Looks like our promise is still valid, Luka."

"EEHH?" Lucky Roo Hollered and took the bounty from Shanks and swore he almost had a heart attack before he fully checked her out and whistled. "Damn. What a beaut she is after so long…and just as you predicted, Beckmann, she became a multi-weapons user. Though this photo is a tad bloodthirsty…then again she'd beat up any who'd hurt her brother."

"The road ahead of them will only be more dangerous." Beckmann voiced. "Having a crew that has the Devil Child-Nico Robin and the girl at the age of 7 that could easily beat up a crew of bandits-Luka. When did you get the bounties?" turning to face the mysterious man that had his hat covering his face.

"Late last night." He replied and looked up to show his killer-yellow hawk eyes. "When I saw the girl's last name I thought Red-Hair would like to know."

Shanks bellowed out in laughter and said. "Damn straight I would, Mihawk. Come sit and stop being a wallflower over there." The world's strongest swordsman giving a grunt and did so as Shanks gave him a cup of sake to drink. Not seeing the glint in Mihawk's eyes as he gazed to the bounty.

Baltigo: Revolutionary Base

"What is this?" Dragon asked as he walked past the current bounty posters of the Straw Hat crew with two pictures catching his eye.

"That is 'StrawHat' Luffy and 'Weapons Princess' Luka. Both the main causes for solider casualty of the Enies Lobby incident. They are the Grandchildren of Garp the Fist the Marine's Hero…" a revolutionary soldier reported but was cut off by his leader.

"I'll be in the winds." Dragon voiced and went outside sporting a confident grin. "I knew you were still alive, Luka." Looking down at his palm that harbored a long diagonal cut. The sign of his blood promise to the stubborn, questionable and strong young girl he meet 10 years ago in Goa Kingdom. His only daughter. "Luffy, Luka. Keep moving forward and follow your dreams. Question the world and travel to your heart's content and the time we'll meet will soon come."

StrawHats:

"A toast to the return of Usopp and Robin." Luffy started as everyone gathered round with a cup in their hands. "To our new nakama Luka our weapons expert and Franky our Shipwright…and also let's welcome our greatest member…THOUSAND SUNNY!"

"KANPAI!" they all cheered and took their cups to their lips. A large box suddenly dropping from the sky that left them in shock. Sanji having tackled Luka out of the way and was on top of her with Zoro and Franky kicking the cook off her with a low growl. On Zoro's part he had no clue what possessed him to be so…hot-blooded suddenly. Franky sprouting about Sanji not allowed touching his love.

"Ah it's here. Finally!" Luka cheered and moved over to the box. Cracking it open to reveal a heap of old newspapers, ageing back to the Pirate King's Era.

"What's all this for?" Nami asked and looked at a few of the papers and found old articles about a scientist named Vegapunk.

"Something that Ji-chan said that caught my interest. Especially when he told me not to look into it. Chopper can you help me." Luka called with the reindeer turning into his human form and picked up the box. Following Luka to the office that Franky made just for her. "Place it in the middle please."

"Hai." Chopper voiced as Robin followed her into the room. The reindeer leaving the two alone after he received thanks from Luka.

"Luka…I've been wondering…" Robin said as she closed the door as the younger girl was filtering through her papers. "What Lucci said…I heard him compare you to a woman called Victoria on several occasions? Do you know who she is?"

Luka stopped looking through the paper and eyed Robin with a wary look before nodding and returned to her papers as she said. "No…" Deciding not to tell Robin; that Kokoro had also called her by that name too. She probably wouldn't be the last to call her Victoria either.

Robin moved to sit in front of Luka and said clearly. "Spandam said that you are in the X-files…coming from that, you would be a dangerous fighter the World Government had…considering X-filers are told to be myths within the Government and had you ever went against the World Government, you would most likely be placed in Imperial Down without question or executed on the spot…along with everybody you cared about." Robin seeing no reaction from Luka though the faint quick mist in her chocolate orbs, Robin knew that Luka was worried.

Luka shuffled uncomfortably by the sudden information and reached over to her sleeve and pulled it down. Facing her back to Robin and said. "Luffy spotted this when we were with Monster-Baa-chan…" Wanting to distract Robin from the topic by telling her a deep secret.

"The mark of the sun pirates." Robin whispered as she lightly traced the burn mark on her shoulder blade. Leaving the interrogation alone for the moment.

"No…Robin…I think I was a slave and was saved by the Sun Pirates." She confessed and pulled her shirt back up when Robin finished inspecting the mark and turned to face her. "Only Luffy and you know…I don't want the others to know. At least not yet, yeah?"

Robin clearly saw the paranoia in her eyes that their nakama would treat her differently if they ever found out that she was a slave, even if Luka couldn't remember. Deciding to get her mind away from her hidden past and asked. "What do you plan on finding with these?" gesturing to the papers everywhere in her office.

"The truth." Luka said cryptically as if she didn't know what she was looking for either. "Hopefully with these I can find it." Robin saw that the girl was caught up in her research as much as Luffy would be caught up in his meat and let her be. Walking out to the courtyard and saw Luffy, Chopper and Usopp all fishing over the edge to catch fish for their fish tank. Sanji in the kitchen preparing food and trying out the new equipment as Nami was steering the ship with Franky. Seeing Zoro taking a nap under a tree and looked to the sky as another large box was shadowing over her. Using her abilities to catch the box and saw that it was smaller than the previous.

"Luka. You have another delivery!" Robin called out with Luka rushing out of her office with papers flying and wondered how she made such a mess in such a small time frame. Robin opened the box and saw that it was filled with old new television broadcasts with a large Visual Den-Den Mushi soon dropping beside her to play the snail recordings. "Where did you get all this?"

"The black markets in Water 7…I also got my information there." Luka answered with a grin and took the box from Robin and led the large snail to her office. All watching Luka in fascination as she got the snail into her office and closed the door behind her and locked them all out.

"I guess Luka won't be out of there for a few days." Luffy informed his crew. "It happens randomly. She would lock herself away and come back out when she's figured something out.

XXXX

Luffy's word was true as the Crew underwent a showdown with an odd group of bounty hunters from Lovely Land and she hadn't emerged once. Even when the ship was taken, the ship lost their flag, the demon penguins, the magnetic twins etc, etc. She didn't come out of her office. It wasn't until they reached the Florian Triangle did she emerge with a thoughtful face. "Luka! You're back!" Chopper cried in relief as he tackled her to the deck and mumbled about how Franky, Zoro, Sanji and Luffy were being scary by telling him and Usopp about how scary the Florian Triangle was.

"Hmm but did you know if you listen carefully enough you'll hear the dead spirits singing pirate songs in their mournful groans." Luka added on with a scary face that had Chopper running behind Zoro's leg and Usopp going into full exorcist-mode.

"Welcome back to the living." Nami teased the youngest female and helped her to her feet. "Finished your work?"

"Almost. I heard we entered the triangle monster-baa-chan talked about and came out. Thought it might be interesting." Luka shrugging her shoulders casually as Sanji rushed to bring her food and water that she wolfed down easily and ended with a burp. Sanji whispering something in her ear as she nodded and handed back the items.

"Yohohoho…" an ominous singing voice wafted through the fog that had the crew looking around. Usopp looking behind the ship in fear as he pointed the ghost ship out. "Yohohoho…" All panicking except Robin and Luka as they looked to each other with neutral faces. "Going to Bink's…" the large ship passing by with a singing skeleton in an old fashioned suit and afro passing on by with tea in hand singing his song. Chopper and Usopp screaming about how Luka was dead-on.

Luffy getting the bright idea of boarding the ship. "I can go alone."

"No way. Who knows what you'll do? Right Luka?" Nami looking to reasonable half of the duo and saw that she was over to Luffy chatting about what they would find on this ship. "Why? Why can't you be normal?" Nami cried to Robin as she pointed to the excited twins about seeing a singing skeleton.

"Well somebody has to go with them." Zoro pointed out and held out straws for them to each pick. "Hurry it up before those two morons leave and bring a curse upon us." Zoro scolded and all picked a straw. With Zoro and Chopper being chosen as Nami thanked Kami and wished Chopper luck.

"Bring back treasure, guys!" Nami waved up as the four climbed the ropes of the other ship…well Luka just jumped up before them as Chopper tried holding back his tears as he climbed the ropes close behind Luffy and Zoro.

The trio of males jumped aboard the ship with Chopper clinging to Zoro's head in fright. All jaw-dropping at seeing Luka being offered a cup of tea by the skeleton and were having a nice little chat with him. "So fast." Zoro muttered.

"Oi Luka! Skeleton-guy!" Luffy called out and rushed over to them.

"Ah who is this Luka-chan? Your brother?" the skeleton asked calmly as he took a sip of his tea along with his companion.

Luka answering. "Yeah he is. He's also the Capitan. Luffy I want you to meet Brook. He's pretty cool, yeah?" Luka chuckling as Luffy had stars in his eyes with Zoro slowly approaching them with Chopper.

"I'm simply so surprised!" Brook said with a skeleton grin. "It's been so many years since I've seen people!"

Luffy standing before Brook and said. "More importantly…can you poop?" getting whacked up the head by Zoro that had no effect on him.

Brook paused for a moment before replying. "Yes. I can."

"Don't answer his stupid question!" Zoro hollered as Chopper leapt from his head and into Luka's arms. Trying to hide from the talking skeleton.

Brook asking Luka. "Ah I forgot to ask. What color are your panties?"

Luka went to open her mouth as Zoro dashed over to her and slapped his hand over her mouth and kicked Brook over the head. "You don't answer his stupid question too." Zoro too slow at keeping up with the twins that Luffy had already asked Brook to join his crew and had accepted. Chopper having passed out from fear as Zoro scolded them both. "Explore! That's what you two were supposed to do. Not make friends and have tea with a living skeleton or ask him to join the crew! And you!" pinching Luka's cheeks. "We need to talk!"

"Common Brook. Let's go!" Luffy called out as he took the skeleton to Sunny leaving Zoro pulling Luka along back to the ship encase she went off wondering. Especially since their doctor was unconscious in her arms. The five returned to the ship with an utterly defeated Zoro as Luffy introduced Brook to the crew.

"Yohohoho. How do you do?" Brook greeted with a tip of his hat.

"What the hell?! Who is this guy?!" Usopp, Franky, Sanji and Nami yelled. Chopper waking up and saw Brook right up in his face making him scream loudly that only made the twins laugh at Brook's antics.

"STOP THAT!" Sanji yelled. "Oi Luffy! What's with this guy?!" Luffy saying that he was funny and is now a part of the crew. "I don't care! I won't let him be!"

"Sanji-chan. Stop being childish. Luffy and I like Brook." Luka voiced and had Sanji eating out of the palm of her hands. Zoro and Chopper down in the dumps as Nami scolded them for letting the twins do something they weren't supposed to. All heading into the kitchen for a full octopus meal as Brook dug into the food and somehow understood Luffy's talk with his mouth full that left Luka smiling that they got along so well. "Zo-chan you said you wanted to talk?" she whispered to the swordsman as he nodded.

"You've been…strange lately." He replied with a thoughtful face. Not knowing that Nami and Robin were listening in. "First you go missing in the mornings at Water 7 and seem distant ever since you met your Ji-san."

"I see." Luka hummed and gave him a small smile. "You still haven't figured it out yet, have you?" seeing his confused face and chuckled. Reaching over to remove some sauce from his cheek with her thumb and licked it off. Causing him to turn a faint shade of red and direct his gaze to his beverage. "One day you'll figure it out and until then…" leaning closer to him and drew his face closer to hers. "I can wait."

Zoro closed his eyes thinking that she was going to kiss him on the lips again, but was shocked when he felt her soft lips touch his forehead and opened his eyes to see her giving him a friendly smile. Way different from the ones when she would tease, talk or hang around him. It was like she was silently saying 'let's just be friends' and for some reason that stung Zoro's chest more than the cut he received from Mihawk in East Blue.

Nami and Robin discreetly nodding to one another that they needed a good girl talk with Luka. All while Luka discreetly nodded to Sanji that she needed to talk to him again.