Yup... two more random roleplay appearances... in a row. Yeah... I really did feel empowered by the reviews that had been left last time! I thought that the entire chapter was very necessary comic relief, since what lies ahead isn't exactly happy and this is sort of a puffy filler chapter of utter plotline doomage. Reviewer thanks go out to zenfry-kun, Gothy Wolfie-san, White Butterfly-san and weixuan18-san.
I am not the lucky bastard who owns One Piece.
Illicit Memories
Assassin's Arc: Contemplation
Yume glanced around the market and walked along in contentment. There were various shops and taverns in the town, each one of them bustling with activity.
This place seems quite similar to Jaya, she thought, glancing in the window of an apothecary shop. The only difference is that this place seems to be a bit more on the quiet side. No random fistfights involving the drunk...
Suddenly, a door in front of Yume flew open and out tumbled a couple of drunkards in an unsteady grapple.
I spoke too soon.
Sidestepping the fight, Yume found herself in front of a sword shop and smiled. She went in and began looking about, examining all the different blades that were kept there.
"Is there anything I can do you for?" asked an elderly man behind the counter.
"Yeah," Yume said, going up to the shopkeeper. "I need some materials for sword upkeep."
"...and for how many swords? Just for the one on your back?"
"No. I need four," she smiled. The old man disappeared into the back and came out with a set of four packages. He looked at Yume suspiciously and placed the packs on the countertop.
"You sure are stocking up," he sighed.
"Is this enough to cover it?" Yume asked, holding out some money. The man looked over the amount and took half.
"Take care," the man said, smiling at Yume. Her entire body shivered, the codger's smile having sent chills up her spine.
"Thanks," Yume said nervously. She walked out of the shop and kept her guard up. Carefully, she began to slink back to the Merry Go. She was almost at the wharf when almost simultaneously she was nearly run over by a girl about her age with a massive nosebleed and she also just barely missed being mauled by a grey-blond cat that seemed to understand when she called it a "bloody tabby cat".
After escaping the danger, Yume found herself back at the wharf and sighed out of relief that she had not been followed. She walked up the ship's gangplank and glanced around in search for any of the other crew members.
"Hey! Is anyone here? Zoro!?" she shouted, scanning the deck.
"I'm up here," came the moss-haired man's voice from the crow's nest. Yume fumbled up the ropes and climbed into the crow's nest atop the mast. There she found Zoro, glaring daggers at her.
"Got your stuff," she said, sitting down next to him and placing his things between them.
"Thanks," Zoro curtly snapped. He looked away from Yume and stared at the sky. There was an awkward silence as they sat; only broken by Yume's voice.
"I thought you would be training today."
"I don't feel like it."
"Any reason why?"
"Just leave me be."
"Fine," Yume sighed. She hopped down onto the rigging and went down to the deck. She looked back up at the crow's nest and shook her head. Unfortunately, she had looked away too quickly, having just missed a head of seafoam green pop up and glare at her as she walked away.
Why her? Zoro thought as he sat back down and stared at the pack Yume had bought for him. The bundle was still and silent, clearly not a ruse or trick. He nudged it with his foot and scowled. Opening up the package, Zoro discovered that everything that he had been in want and need of for his swords was there. Yume had left nothing out.
She actually did it right, he whispered to himself. What is her reason? Zoro looked over the railing of the crow's nest and spotted Yume over by the mikan trees, picking a few pieces of ripe fruit for Sanji when he returned. He could just make out the features on her face forming a slight frown as she turned to go into the galley. Zoro watched as she disappeared into the hold of the ship. Finally, with nothing else to do, he sighed and drew his swords and began to clean.
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"So here you two are! Sanji and I have been looking all over for you!" Nami snapped, barging into the nearly-empty Moireach Manor with a flourish. Luffy glanced up from his rack of meat and Gormal from wiping the bar counter to look at the livid woman as she stormed over towards them.
"Hiya Nami!" Luffy grinned. After about three seconds of searching for her earlier, Luffy had resigned himself to eating instead to pass the time. The navigator ignored her captain and glared evilly at the deck hand.
"We put you in charge of Luffy and you just disappeared! What is the matter with you!? We had to send Chopper back to the ship alone so that we could try to find you! Idiot!"
"…but I…" Gormal tried to say in defense.
"What in the hell did you break that is forcing you to have to work off the debt!?"
"…I…"
"Man Gormal!" Luffy exclaimed. "Your aunt really does know how to cook!"
"Aunt…?" Nami asked suspiciously. "Gormal, is there something you aren't telling us?"
"Well, you see…"
"Gormal! When did I ever tell you to stop working!?" shouted Mordag as she burst from the back room brandishing a frying pan. The stout woman stopped as soon as she saw Nami and smiled.
"Are you this man's aunt?" Nami demanded, pointing at Gormal.
"Aye. What is your problem with my poofter of a nephew?"
"I'm not a poofter!"
"Oh, shut up boy."
"Yes, ma'am."
"I need him back," Nami said frankly. "Luffy too. Now."
"Girl, where are your manners?" Mordag snapped. She hopped up onto a barstool, pointed at Gormal and sneered. "This miscreant owes me years of back work. Take the boy, but leave the poofter."
"Auntie Mordag!"
"You shut up boy! After running away from me, I'm going to make sure that you compensate me threefold for all the extra trouble I've had to have without you here! Do you realize how hard it is to move into the Grand Line without a man's strength!?"
"Something tells me that you did just fine," Gormal grumbled, stomping off to the end of the bar and walking into the main of the tavern. "I'm going with Nami and Luffy."
"Now listen here…" Mordag started, but she was cut off by Nami's hand gently touching her shoulder.
"Listen," Nami whispered in the old woman's ear. "How about if I take care of it for you? I can make sure he pays you back tenfold with the treasure he acquires at sea. You can be paid in gold."
"Gold…?"
"Yes, ma'am. Now how about it…?"
"Alright then!" Mordag exclaimed. She grabbed hold of the three pirates and shoved them out the door. "You three go off on your adventures! See you soon!"
"What the…?" Gormal gasped. "How did you get my auntie to comply? What did you say to her?"
"I just speak her language, that's all," Nami smiled. "Now come on boys, we've got to go find Sanji and tell him that I found you. The both of us have been looking for hours."
"You must have, the sun's almost set," Luffy observed.
"Hey Gormal!" shouted a voice. Gormal, Luffy and Nami spun around to see Meadhbh running up towards them with a small bundle in her hand. Once she within reach, she threw it at her cousin and laughed. "Keep in touch you idiot! I don't want the next time we hear from you be in another five years!"
"Sure thing Meadhbh!" Gormal laughed as he caught the bundle and smiled at Meadhbh. They both gave out a short laugh and turned around to go their separate ways.
"I thought you hated her," Luffy said as he began to follow Gormal.
"We're cousins and grew up together," the deck hand grinned. "We'll bicker like regular siblings, but will also look out for one another as well." He unwrapped the bundle and held up a Den Den Mushi in the fading sunlight. "See? She cares. I bet she saved up for months to get this."
"…and you're just taking it?"
"Yes Nami, because that's what we do."
"I don't get it."
"You're not supposed to."
"She's gonna have you check in, right?" Luffy asked, grinning at the Den Den in delight. "That way your aunt doesn't go ballistic!"
"Luffy's got it," Gormal chuckled. Nami rolled her eyes and looked around the market for Sanji. She found him, fawning over a pair of girls that were coming out of a shop. She grabbed him and dragged the chef by his collar all the way back to the ship. There she found Usopp and Maon walking up towards the Merry Go carrying boxes containing all sorts of mechanical trinkets.
"Have a fun time guys?" Maon asked cheerily. Gormal raised his eyebrow and glanced at the stout man.
"Explain the kind of 'fun' I was supposed to be having," he said, shaking his head. "Mordag and Meadhbh are here."
"They are?!" Maon gasped, clutching his chest for the sake of dramatics. "Thank the seas I didn't run into those two!"
"Scary people?" Usopp asked as they walked up the gangplank and onto the ship.
"My auntie and cousin," Gormal explained. He rubbed his left shoulder that was still sore from when he crashed into the table. "They're only frightening when they're wielding the war hammer."
"Ouch," Usopp chuckled. He and Maon then disappeared with the boxes of trinkets and Sanji retreated to the galley to leave Gormal to face a fierce scolding, compliments of Nami.
"Why did you let yourselves get into trouble!?" she lectured, wagging her pointer finger in disgust. "We could have been searching for you two for days! It would have put us off schedule! Can you imagine the treasure we would miss if we were off schedule by a day or two?!"
I hate you, Gormal thought, keeping his head bowed in shame. You're going to turn into my auntie one of these days. Lonely and greedy without anyone there for you…
"…and furthermore…"
"Hey Robin!" Luffy shouted, drowning out everyone else. He was hanging off the side of the ship and waving wildly. "What took you so long!?"
"Just doing some shopping," Robin said as she boarded the ship. She had with her a rather large stack of books that all seemed a bit more than slightly aged. "This port has an amazing amount of history in the archives. I might be able to use these."
"Sounds like fun!" Luffy grinned.
"Dinner!" shouted Yume. Everyone looked up to see her standing in front of the galley door, wearing Sanji's panda apron and smiling profusely.
"Yay! Food!" Luffy cheered. Usopp and Maon burst from the "Usopp Factory" and began running up to the galley, everyone else following in their path except Zoro, who still stayed in the crow's nest.
"I decided to cook today!" Yume said cheerily as the rest of the Mugiwara Kaizokudan filed in. The table was filled with beautiful dishes and several different kinds of meats, puddings and whatnot. Luffy and Maon were already competing in their thrice-a-day food contest and Usopp rescuing some food of his own out of the fray.
"This looks delicious Yume-chan!" Sanji swooned. Everyone sat down and grabbed some food for themselves. The happiness was only short-lived though, for as soon as some food went into their mouths, all attitude began to change.
This is awful… Nami thought.
Dreadful… Gormal cringed.
That's nasty! Usopp twitched.
I think I'm gonna be sick, Chopper panicked, rushing out of the galley to upheave the contents of his stomach. All but Sanji, Robin, Maon and Luffy left the galley in favor of the side of the ship.
"Is something wrong?" Yume asked, looking blankly at the door.
"We already ate in town," Robin lied, standing up calmly and walking towards the door. "I think something in town might not have agreed with them."
"Oh, okay then," Yume sighed, looking over at the storm of food that was Luffy and Maon. They were just about finished eating not only their food, but everyone else's as well.
"Dinner was lovely Yume-chan," Sanji said suavely, concealing the fact he fed his portion of dinner to the talking garbage disposals. He held out a plate of food and smiled. "Why don't you take this up to that thing in the crow's nest while I start on the dishes?"
"Ano… okay… are you sure…?"
"Of course," the chef said. He placed the plate in Yume's hands and gently guided her out the door. Just when he was sure she was out of earshot, he sent a kick into the skulls of Luffy and Maon.
"Hey! What was that for!?" Maon snapped.
"Don't eat that shit!" Sanji growled.
"…but Yume made it…" Luffy reasoned.
"I don't care if she made it or not, just don't eat any more or you'll be sick," Sanji sighed, gathering up the food. "Remember, it's the loveliest dish in the world until she's gone."
"…but I like Yume-san's cooking…" Maon admitted.
"This is why I'm the chef," Sanji muttered, gathering up dishes and placing them in the sink.
"Hm, I wonder where Usopp went," Maon pondered, looking around the room for the sniper.
"Let's go find him!" Luffy said. Maon agreed and they disappeared out the door in a flash.
"Those two are going to eat themselves sick one of these days," Sanji muttered to the filthy dishes in the sink.
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"Zoro…" Yume called as she climbed up into the crow's nest with the swordsman's food. "You still there Zoro?" She was just at the top and about to climb in when Zoro poked his head out of the nest and right in Yume's face.
"What do you want!?" he growled angrily. Yume nearly dropped the plate out of surprise.
"Oh! You scared me!" she exclaimed. "I brought you your dinner." She climbed into the crow's nest and held out the plate. "I made it myself!"
"I'm not hungry," Zoro muttered.
"Please eat! Everyone else did!"
"I told you, I'm not hungry," Zoro growled. He glared at Yume as she placed the plate down on the floor of the crow's nest and sat down beside it.
"Well I'm not going to leave until you eat," she said firmly, folding her arms and nodding.
"Stop with the 'caring nakama' act."
"Why would I be acting?"
"You've tried to kill me twice."
"You still haven't let go of that?"
"I still don't trust you."
"…and I'm still not leaving unless that plate is empty."
"Will you shut up and leave if I eat?"
"Yes."
"Fine," Zoro grunted, sitting down by the plate and shoveling a forkful into his mouth. He did not even get to swallow a thing before he began gagging.
"What's wrong?" Yume asked.
"This is disgusting!" Zoro moaned as he spat the food out onto the plate. "What the hell!?"
"Hey, I made that, thank you!" Yume stood up briskly and stared down the swordsman.
"What?"
"You don't like my cooking?"
"I think it's horrible."
"Stupid ingrate!"
"Bitch backstabber!"
"You jerk-off punk! That puny little brain of y…"
"GET OUT!" Zoro roared, standing up and drawing his cursed sword. His boot knocked the plate over and splattered the food all over the floor of the crow's nest, some even splashing on Yume herself. Zoro brought the sword tip right to her throat, exactly how Mihawk did in her dream.
"You really think that you can scare me?" she muttered.
"Get out."
"Fine." Yume hopped out onto the rigging and glided down to the deck.
"Did Zoro eat?" Maon asked, him and Luffy having not found Usopp and reverting to wandering around aimlessly.
"No," Yume smiled. "That's alright though. I think I might just lace his next meal."
"Lace his meal?" Luffy asked. "That wouldn't be very fun to eat…" He imagined a rack of meat with a frilly white skirt, sitting on a doily and grinned widely, clearly amused by the idea.
"No Luffy, not that kind of lace," Yume sighed. She saw that Luffy had a rather confused look upon his face and thus prepared for a long night of explanations and dodging answers.
Author's Notes
I have none. Amazing, isn't it? All I can really say is my wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to all of my American readers. Tomorrow we shall stuff ourselves silly and fall asleep on the couch watching American-rules football or cheesy Christmas specials or that freakin' "Iron Giant" film over the television. Well, except for me. I'll probably just sleep to begin with because I am just like that. No... wait... I have to animate something for school. Damn. Oh, to all those who are from Canada or overseas or whatever... I still wish you all well. Not fair that you get no cheer because of where you live.
Edits: Uh, five words, for the sake of editing.
