Days passed with Luffy visiting his new friend Roronoa Zoro. The 9 year old was annoyed by the other's antics however he realized, he really don't mind Luffy's presence anymore. Actually, he was slightly grateful. The 7 year old was cheerful, immature and albeit fun to be with. Zoro never really had a chance to have a proper friend same or younger as age as him before Luffy came with him dedicated on his training, neglecting his social life. Not that he needed one. He doesn't want to admit, it was kind of refreshing to have someone near him. Refreshing when the other stops bugging him on joining his crew for a while.

Days were spent with Zoro listening to Luffy's blabbers as he trained whilst ended with Luffy scolded by Ace for being missing a lot and accused for keeping secrets from him... Not that Zoro knows.

Chapter Eleven

Luffy was surprisingly tight lipped about his new friend. He would dodge Ace's accusals day after day, depart when Ace was busy with Makino...

Luffy hummed as he trek down the path he had been walking for days. As he reached the clearing, he expected to see a certain moss to be there but much to his disappointment. The other was not there...

''Strange. Zoro is always here.'' he thought aloud. ''He must be hungry and ate without me!'' he exclaimed. ''Zoro, that jerk!'' he stormed towards another path leading him to a village.

As Luffy neared to the village that was not too oddly silent, he saw a big ship on the other side. He widened his eyes in realization as he saw a black flag on top. Pirates!

A bad feeling stirred in Luffy's chest. He doesn't like what was going to happened soon. Even though he doesn't have clue or anything. Suddenly, his instincts tells him to go to the dojo where he had gone only twice out of the days he had met Zoro.

Luffy gasped at the sight as he neared the dojo. All kids sqat down crying whilst a certain green head stood with 3 katanas with him, one in his mouth whilst each for his arms. He also saw Koshiro gritting his teeth in pain behind his students, clutching on his injured shoulder. And... He noticed the threat infront them. It was a big man with cape holding a gatling gun.

''ZORO!'' Luffy cried out. He could feel strength rush to him as he sprinted to his friend. The big man had his gun directed to Zoro, ready to fire the man fired, Luffy was already infront of the older boy. Zoro's eyes widened and dropped his swords.

''L-Luffy!'' he stuttered out as the young lad fell on his back. ''LUFFY!''

The man who seemed to be the captain of the pirate ship clicked his tongue but nevertheless smiled maliciously. ''Your friend got in the way but here, I'll be killing you now, kid. With no interruptions.'' he loaded his guns , Zoro took Luffy's body onto his lap. ''Luffy!'' he surveyed the other's wo... unds (intentional). Zoro froze. There was no blood or even holes. Only bruises-to-be spots.

''O-ouch,'' Luffy whimpered as he struggled to sit up. ''That hurt, you asshole!'' he exclaimed with tears in his eyes. Kids and Koshiro widened their eyes as well as the pirate captain's.

''What the heck?! You should be dead,'' the man exclaimed. ''I showered you with bullets for godsake!'' he, then, directed his gun at Luffy. ''Nevermind. Die for real!''

This time, it was Zoro who aided. He pushed his body and Luffy's at the side, rolling away.''What are you doing here, you idiot?!'' Zoro hissed to Luffy as they dodged another barrage of bullets.

''Well, I thought you were keeping food from me so...'' Luffy admitted.

''Are you an idiot?!'' Zoro exclaimed as he dragged Luffy behind a wall. ''Wait- That was a stupid question.'' Luffy just tilted his head.

''So, are we beating him or not?'' he asked.

''I left my swords back there,'' Zoro scowled. Luffy grinned.

''Then, I'll go and get them back!''

Before the green-head could protest, the straw hat wearer had already gone and ran. Zoro cursed. The younger will be the death of him some day. Does he even have self-preservation?!

(Meanwhile back at Dadan's country, Ace shivered, his Luffy-o-Meter was on red levels. ''Danger, danger,'' it said on his mind. ''The idiot's in trouble!'' Portgas could only growl. Makino blinked at the sudden behavior.)

''This brat,'' the man growled as Luffy ran towards the swords beneath him. ''DIE!'' he pressed the trigger, bullets showered towards the rubber boy, but not once he was able to hit him aside from their first encounter. ''What the heck are you?!''

Luffy winced in pain. Few bullets seemed to have hit him yet he couldn't see blood. He didn't mind it first as his priorities were set: Zoro's swords. He dived towards them as he was a meter away, clutching the three on his chests on the process, crashing on a wooden man used this opportunity to fire again, however Koshiro was there to deflect the bullets.

''What a great bravery you have shown, Luffy-kun,'' complimented the dojo owner. ''Sorry for the trouble you had to go through today. Let me take care of this.'' he had been late for the action because he was taken in surprise and the children were taken as hostages. Luffy's arrival was a great distraction for him to reach for his katana lying a meter beside him.

The evil pirate gritted his teeth, no one was there to back him up because his subordinates had long gone defeated by the same man awhile ago... A very awhile ago. (Koshiro had actually beaten the man's crew from the very start then got his guard down when the kids were held hostage by the sneaky captain, firing him a single bullet in the process, injuring Koshiro's shoulder.)

Koshiro's closed eyes opened, narrowing on him. The man shuddered in fear. The dojo master attacked, with two slashes, he ended it all.

The marimo walked, away from the wall, heading to the scene. ''Teacher, the suffering was long yet you only ended it with two slashes,'' Zoro said. ''You could've ended it sooner earlier before this suicidal idiot came.'' he pointed at Luffy.

Koshiro chuckled. ''Sorry about that, Zoro-kun. It seems like I have gone little bit dull and dropped my guard.''

''That was like really cool!'' Luffy exclaimed. ''Never seen adults fight before!'' Zoro rolled his eyes before he remembered something.

''Oi, I'm pretty sure bullets hit you earlier,'' he said. ''I'm pretty sure bullets don't leave bruises.'' Luffy blinked for a couple of seconds.

''Oh yeah...'' he said. ''... I'VE BEEN SHOT! ACE IS GOING TO BE ANGRY WITH ME!'' he panicked.

''YOU JUST FREAKING REALIZED?!'' Zoro yelled in disbelief. ''EXPLAIN YOURSELF DAMMIT!''

''I'm a rubber man!'' And just like that, Luffy dropped the bomb he had been hiding for days.

''Hey, Zoro!'' Luffy called. It had been days since the Evil Pirate Incident (Ace roared fire when he saw Luffy's bruises when he got home that day). ''I just thought of a new technique.''

''Tell me it's not another stupid technique,'' Zoro groaned. ''Your control's still stupid too.''

''Hey, I'm working on it!''

''Yeah, and constantly hitting your face,'' Zoro said nonchalantly. ''Amazing. Just right on the mark. Bravo!''

Luffy flushed in embarrassment. ''Just see this, idiot!'' There was a pregnant silence between them. ''Uh, Zoro,'' he started. ''You might want to move at the side.'' Zoro was too near the target for his own good. The marimo shrugged.

''I doubt you'll hit me even you want to.''

A tick mark appeared on Luffy's head. He also pouted angrily. ''Oh really?'' Lu's eyes narrowed to glare at the older.

''Go ahead.''

''Don't say I didn't warn you, idiot Zoro!'' he shouted as he stretched his right arm behind him and swung it forward. It missed Zoro by a few inches. The green-head wore a 'told-ya' face. Luffy did same with his left arm, missing the target by a few inches. However, the boy didn't end there. He repeated with speed getting faster. ''Gomu Gomu no... GATLING!'' he chanted, successfully hitting the target and Zoro. Luffy's arms looked like they multiplied, much to Zoro's horror as Luffy's fists hit him. Luffy's assaults, then, ended.

''ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!'' the bruised Zoro exclaimed. Luffy just whistled.

''I warned you~''

Sorry for the lateness. The world hates me very much. This chapter and the last one probably didn't make any sense. Sorry. I have a disorganized mind right now.