Chapter 12

A/N:Yeah this is kinda a short chapter, BUT I hope to get the next one out soon! For now... Enjoy the show...

Zoro and Sanji walked together down the dark halls as they made their way back to the party. Of course Zoro got lost, luckily it was only twice, not only did it coast them some time, but this time Zoro had a good reason for it: he couldn't take his eyes of the other boy. He just looked so amazing. Especially in the moonlight, it enhanced all his features.

They made it to the side door where Sanji originally came out of.

"Hey," Zoro stopped him before the prince could turn the handle.

"Yeah?" Sanji looked at him with a smile on his smooth face.

"I...uh... Just wanted you to know," the bodyguard scratched the back of his head and tried hard the hide the blush that was appearing, "I wanted you to know that, I, think you look really...um...really..." He wasn't sure how to compliment him. He was a man after all, not a girl. It was easier to compliment a girl. Call her beautiful, call her lovely, stunning, anything. But what do you call a man? "Good," Zoro finished. "Ugh, what was that supposed to mean?!" He scolded himself on the inside. But non-the-less he heard a slight chuckle from the prince. Sanji leaned forward and planted a small kiss on the corner of the swordsman's lip.

"Thank you... Zoro." He then opened the door, their ears were instantly filled with the noise of the celebration. It was if they never left. There was still food being brought out to the tables. And guests were still lively, "What do you think?" asked Sanji suddenly, nearly shouting over the noise of people and music, "Should we look for Luffy and the others." Zoro nodded and they began their search.

It was simple to look for Luffy. You either search for the table with most noise, or the table that is being served the most food. And this didn't seem to be a problem. Almost instantly they found their boy.

"Hey Luffy! Law! Usopp!" Sanji greeted them cheerfully, "Oh." He stopped and noticed that their was another person at their table. Someone only Usopp got to see very often, "Hello Captain Robin. It's a pleasure to see you." Sanji bowed his head. The young beautiful woman stood to her feet, so did Law, and at the sight of his captain and master standing, Usopp did the same. Following their lead, Usopp bowed and said, "The pleasure is ours, your majesty." Usopp was greatly influenced by his teacher Robin, he wanted to be the best he could be at his job, he respected her greatly. And as for their little "display" of respect, Zoro was in too much of a good mood to criticize them mentally. (Luffy was too busy eating to notice none of what they did, Law was gonna be made about that later.)

Sanji smiled and pulled up a chair, Zoro did the same beside him.

"So..." said their prince, "How's the party down here?"

"It's great!" exclaimed Luffy, face stuffed, finally speaking.

"So you can talk while you eat," commented Law.

"Seriously though Sanji. Way to through a party!" Usopp beamed

"I'm glad you like it," smiled Sanji, "But believe it or not, my uncle planned it all. He wanted most of it to be a surprise, I suppose."

"HAHAHA! YOU'RE UNCLE IS THE BEST!" Luffy said loudly with that signature smile of his.

"That's the king you're talking about you idiot! Show some respect!" Law shouted at him.

"Go easy on him Law. He means no harm or disrespect," Robin put a lovely hand on the man's shoulder. Law only growled and continued eating.

"Where's Onami and Franky?" asked Zoro. Usopp replied,

"Franky left to help Onami-chan find the kitchen. The cook called her over. They needed more food I guess..."

"How does Franky know his way around this place?" asked Zoro again.

"I can answer that," said their prince, "Franky, as most of you know, is the best carpenter in all of Grand Jipang. One day my uncle and members of the counsel thought it was time that the palace need some, "adjustments". So, Franky and a bunch of other of his men from the Galley Law Company were summoned here to work on it. That's when I met him. It turns out that he also knew Luffy and Usopp and Onami-swan. I saw him in town a bunch of times after that, at the Pinwheel."

"Hm. I see." Zoro sat back in his seat, then took a sip of his sake.

Suddenly, I big shadow was cast over their side of the table, then a deep voice boomed happily, "Somebody say my name?!"

"HEY FRANKY! EAT SOME FOOD IT'S GREAT!" Luffy grabbed him around his massive neck by using his devil fruit power, forcing him too sit in the empty chair beside him. The cyborg laughed.

"Where can I sit?" asked a sweet beautiful tone. It was Onami herself.

"Hey, how are things in the kitchen?" asked Usopp.

"Fine now. I should have brought more food. I would have got paid WAY more," she moped.

"There's a seat beside me," said Robin in reply to her first comment. A long slender arm was pulled out of her black and purple kimono as she pulled out the chair beside hers.

"Why thank you!" she beamed, "Say... I think I've seen you before. You're the captain training Usopp right?" The lovely woman smiled and said,

"Yes. That's me."

"Wow. I must say you've been doing a real' great job. I've never seen Usopp so manly!"

"Aw shucks Onami-chan." Usopp blushed and scratched the back of his head, "Wait... I was always manly!"

"I mean he really grew a backbone!" added Onami, ignoringthe long nose.

"Onami! You're not being fair!"

This made Sanji laugh, suddenly grabbing everyone's attention.

"I miss handing around with you guys! I wish it could always be like this!"

"Yeah," they all said at the same time, (even Law).

"Oh, while I remember your highness, if I may..."

"Of course Captain Robin," Sanji urged her.

"...Well, from what I gather, that Vice Captain is returning from his journeys. The one I told you about. I was able to write him, and he said he was very excited to finally meet you."

"Who is this?" asked Law, Luffy looked at him as he asked this. Law's voice always seemed to snap the boy out of eating.

"There is this Vice Captain that Robin was telling me about. At first I thought she was joking, but all of it is true."

"What's true? Who is this guy?" asked Luffy. Everyone was curious now.

"There is a man who possesses strange powers. The likes of which I have never seen or heard of. That power, is the power of the Yomi Yomi no Mi fruit."

"Whoa, the Revive-Revive Fruit!" said Usopp and Luffy in unison.

"Yes," Robin continued, "He has never meet Prince Sanji, because he was recruited long before the prince arrived here. From what I gather, he's quite old. Also, he has not been to the palace in over twenty years."

"TWENTY?!" Exclaimed Franky, Usopp, and Onami, (Luffy had food in his mouth again). Zoro listen in interest.

"Where is has this... Vice Captain been this whole time?" Law asked.

"I believe his absence had something to do with a company called, The Thriller Company. They were rising to power. Trust me when I say they are not someone you want to have power. So, the king, in his younger years, sent out the Vice Captain and some of his men to take down the company. His mission was successful not long after he was deployed."

"How come he didn't just return after that?" asked Franky.

"I think there was something he was searching for. The king allowed him to do as he wanted. As a reward for erasing the Thriller Company."

"Hm... I wonder what he was looking for," Onami pondered out loud.

"He must of found it, if he's coming back now," Zoro finally said something.

"I don't think he has," Robin replied, leaning back in her chair.

"HUH? Really? The poor guy," Usopp commented.

"What makes you say that Robin-chan?" asked Onami.

"From the letter he sent to me. I'm sure if he was able to obtain was he was looking for." Law leaned his elbows on the table and asked, his voice deep and serious,

"Tell me Robin. What is the name of this... Vice Captain?" There was a pause as Robin took a sip of her tea, placed it down, and replied,

"Soul King... Brook"

A/N:Yay! A new character approaching! Can't wait. And you thought Brook wasn't gonna be in it. WELL THINK AGAIN! BWA HA HA!