Hey everyone! It's the weekend and as promised, here's the new chapter!
Chapter 10
As the festival barely begun at sunset, Sanji was starting on dinner and talking to Robin, who was going to distract the chef for the most part. Usopp was somewhere else on the ship, trying to re-create the powder that made the swordsman numb, thinking it was a useful thing to have.
It was, at this time, Luffy and Zoro quickly got off the ship and headed to the crowded town, hand in hand. At first the two were getting odd stares until they saw the blind swordsman.
"Wow!" Luffy said as he saw the lights, games, and his favorite: food! "This is awesome!"
Zoro smiled as his other senses were having a party of their own. His ears can detect many conversations, mostly commenting how thoughtful Luffy is being to the swordsman, and music as well as the sounds of cooking and games being played. Smelling was another scent that picked up the savory spices on meats and sweets of desserts.
"What to do first?" Luffy said as he held his first mate's hand tight.
"Something to eat?" The other threw in.
The young captain's eyes seemed to sparkle at the idea. "Great idea!" He cheered as he hugged the other's arm.
The first mate felt his face being warm, but it was only small.
The other, who didn't notice the blush, searched for a great spot to eat. "But there's so many food that looks so good!" He whined, when he found one. "Hey!" He said as he started to drag the other towards the stand.
"Found something?" The swordsman asked as they stopped.
"Hello there fellows!" Said a man with a big beer belly that's covered by a white apron. He looked about his mid fifties with a partly bald spot on his head and a thick mustache. "How may I…" He paused when he saw the blind man. "help you…"
"Let's see…" The young man looked at the meat section. "They have kabobs, grilled chicken and fish, fried chicken and fish, beef steak… Sound anything good Zoro?"
"What's the mild spicy one you serve?" The swordsman asked.
"Good nose you got there." The man commented. "That will be the beef with the very small dash of spice that is grown in North Blue."
"North Blue huh?" Zoro said.
"We'll take eight of 'em!" Luffy announced.
"E-Eight sir?"
"Yep!"
"Oh… Okay." The man said as he went right to work.
Then Zoro could make out some cheering from a few booths down. "What's going on over there?" He asked as Luffy looked where the other was facing.
The man took a quick look as well and sighed. "That's just the run contest. We have it once a year and all the drunks in town compete on who could hold their liquor."
"Sounds like something that you can win at, Zoro!" The young man said with a wide smile.
"Sure does." Zoro said with a grin.
"ARE YOU INSANE!?" The man said as he looked like he grew fangs. "These men bet whatever they have saved up for the year and the winner takes it and spends it for more booze! Does that really sound interesting?"
"I am going to need something to drink after I eat." Zoro pointedly said, causing the man to look shocked. "You're insane!"
"Watch the meat!" Luffy said as the man went back to work.
"Here you go." The man said. "Eight North Beef Specials."
Luffy cheered as he grabbed the bag that came with it. "Thanks a ton!"
"That will be two hundred beli."
The young captain handed the bag to Zoro as he counted out the exact number and paid; Nami would've had a heart attack seeing this. "Here you go!" He said as he and the first mate found a spot and ate. "Wow! This is great! We better tell Sanji about North Blue spices!"
Zoro chuckled. "Sure. Then we will have a reason to rub it in that crap cook's face."
Luffy laughed at that. "Yeah!"
As they ate, they heard the group of drunks cheer on one person. "Wolfkill! Wolfkill!" Then a louder cheer erupted.
"Wolfkill: 12 wins! The still remaining champ for the rum contest!" Said one man with an old, ratty, hand-me-down robe. "Collected wins: 12,000 beli!"
Wolfkill laughed. He looked like a middle class man of his late fifties with hair slightly out of place with a pony tail. He had a thin, light brown mustache that was going grey at the ends. "That's noth'n! Who has the guts to challenge me? Eh?"
"The guy's annoying." Zoro said as he started to finish his second serving of beef.
"Yeah, but he's enjoying himself." Luffy said, seeing no reason to confront the old drunk.
"Hey! Mako!" Wolfkill said as he pointed to an old man no older than him. "What you go in yer pocket?!"
Mako, who also looked like a middle classman, looked shocked. "J-Just a rusty old watch, Wolfkill. You know I don't have any tin' valuable."
"To hell I don't know! Take it out and prove it!" The man was sounding angry.
Mako shivered as he sighed in defeat. He slowly took out, not an old watch like he said, but a small golden heart with rubies on it.
The champ looked really pissed. "You filthy liar! Where'd you get that?!"
"It was my wife's! It's the only thing I have to remember her by!"
Wolfkill spat on the ground. "I don't care if it's from the Queen herself! You hid it from me and now it's mine!"
"You can't do that!" Mako said. "This is my wife's prized treasure handed down from her grandmother! She trusted me with this until our son marries!"
Wolf kill snapped his fingers and a gang tackled the poor old man until he dropped the heart. He picked it up and grinned. "I could sell this for a good value!"
"Give it back! Please!"
Luffy was watching this with a dark, solemn expression.
"Captain…" Zoro said, hearing it all.
"Still thirsty?"
The swordsman grinned. He may not remember much about his captain, but he knows when you mess with the captain or trigger something, you're in for it. He got up, followed by the young captain and walked over. "OI!" He called. "Are you still looking for a challenger?!"
That's the new chapter of the day, and maybe more today if I'm bored (which is most likely). I hoped you enjoyed and R&R please!