Tad bit of a time skip! Enjoy!
/—-/
Resting. Bitch. Face.
It has now been two weeks since Law's seizure. A few things have changed. One, Luffy has become more distant from her crew, mostly Zoro. Two, Penguin's case is vastly approaching, Shakky says there is a good chance it could go down to a misdemeanor. At Least that isn't a main concern. Three, the Heart and Revolutionaries are working to find out what Kid's family is planning. None of this information has gone to Kid, Killer agreed to keep it a secret. He knows what would happen if Kid were to find out.
They are now in the November. The other Halloween events went down without a hitch, all thanks to captain Nami. But even with the Strawhats success. None of them could shake the awful feeling brewing in their chest. None of them understand what is going on with Zoro and Luffy. The two barely talk to each other, not to mention the weight of awkwardness both of them held.
Luffy has been acting off sense Law's seizure. The crew deemed that understandable. But Zoro started to act weird as well, which was confusing. When Usopp tried to ask why, he was shouted at by the green-haired man. Usopp's life has been going great, his dad is home, and is staying for a while. He is happy to be able to spend so much time with him.
The rest of the crew is also living their best life. Jinbe has become accustomed to the outlandish thought process each crew member held. He has become fond of the group and is glad he accepted the offer. Brook feels the same way about the students. He doesn't have many friends, but these people were better than anything he could imagine.
Franky and Robin are coming up on their year anniversary. It is rare to see them without a smile plastered onto their faces. Chopper has been talking to Traffy a lot about medicine. The college student is not how he thought he'd be, but he is still happy to collaborate with him. To him, Traffy is like a medical god. He is so smart and talented at such a young age; Chopper can't help but fangirl about him.
Sanji hasn't had any annoying visits from his siblings. It is a good thing, but he can't help but wonder why. Nami is happy about how much money the club has saved. Those events have boosted up their numbers a lot.
So yes, the crew is very happy with their life, except none of them can enjoy it because of Mr. Doom and Miss. Gloom. Both of them sat on opposite sides of the couch, frowning as if their lives depended on it.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The president and vice president looked at the door and gestured for someone to open it. Seriously? Usopp scoffed and got up to open the door. His eyes shifted around the empty hallway, that's weird… Usopp then looked on the ground. Laid there was a gift basket full of donuts and a note. The basket looked expensive and well put together.
"Who is there?" Robin asked. Usopp picked up the basket and closed the door behind him with his foot. The gift was heavy and barely fit in his hands. Everyone's eyes widen from the size of the gift, "who sent that? Is there a note?" Nami asked as she helped Usopp carry the basket. Luffy beamed at as she foamed at the mouth.
"Oi! Stop it! It isn't for you." Nami karate chopped Luffy's head to get her to back away. Zoro glared at the donuts, something about them gives him a bad feeling. Sanji opened the basket with care and handed Usopp the note. Everyone gathered around before he read it out loud.
To say thank you for the other day. I'm not good at this stuff but I hope you'll like it.
Nami and Robin went 'aww' before Usopp could finish. "Oi! Let me finish!"
"Looks like Nami or Robin has a secret admirer." Brook stated, ignoring Usopp.
"Are you ok with that Franky?" Jinbe asked.
"Robin can have as many fans as she wants." Robin gave her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek from his response.
"Let me finish!" Everyone became quiet for him to continue.
You have a good heart and spirit, no matter how weird you are.
To~ Lu
From~ Kat
Everyone froze and turned to the weird woman. Their eyes grew wide, especially Zoro's. Luffy blinked a few times, did i hear that right? It's for me? Luffy pointed at herself to double check.
Jinbe clarified, "Yes Luffia, it is for you. Do you know anyone named Kat?"
Zoro was praying that 'Kat' is another one of Luffy's friends. He is already grumpy enough from the fact he saw Luffy hugging someone two weeks ago. He doesn't need this pain in his chest to increase. He was going to the hospital to check up on Luffy's brother, but then he spotted her with another guy. The thing that really ticked him off was he couldn't see the man's face, and that he kissed her on the head. After that, him and her have been distant. Zoro thinks it's because of the mystery man.
Is he her boyfriend? Why didn't she tell me? Is she going to tell me? It has been two weeks, yet, she hasn't. Is he that man who sent her the donuts? Mihawk's words floated into the best friend's mind once again. He hasn't been able to get his father's words off his mind, not since that day.
Luffy tapped her finger against her chin, "no- Wait! Yes! Yes! I know who it is! Shishishi, I can't believe he remembered."
Nami wanted to pull her hair out, "WHO!?"
Luffy backed away from Nami, "his name is Kat-ur-o- something." Luffy shrugged. She called him Kat because she can't say his real name.
Robin snapped her fingers, "do you mean Katakuri? The college first year?"
Luffy giggled, "yeah that's him! Shishishi!"
Everyone gasped.
Nami was the first to bounce back. "You're telling me you know the Katakuri! The hottest first year in college? The captain of Big Mom's crew? The man who's good in any sport he is put in? The guy who has such a sexy body he puts Zoro to shame!?"
"Hey!" Zoro shouted. He has also heard of Katakuri, the man is quiet, yet everyone knows him. He is also known for having the best 'resting bitch face' of all time. Zoro has to admit, in looks he cannot beat the man. Damnit, how does she even know him!?
"Yeah i guess… but I only call him Kat. Shishishi! I can't believe he remembered I love donuts! He is the best!" Hearing Luffy complement the man felt as if someone was beating him with a metal pipe. Zoro wanted nothing more than to brag about how well he knows Luffia. But then he would be contradicting himself.
He told her he didn't love her, right? And she is happy about it. So why does it hurt so bad? Is it because I'm lying to her and myself? Is it because i know she can't be mine? Is it that mystery man? Oh it is definitely the mystery man! Fuck! Stupid Kat-a whatever!
Robin smiled, "tell us how you met." The crew nodded, they all want to know the story behind their relationship. By crew, I mean Zoro.
"Ok well…"
)0)-(0(
Flashback, a week after her and Penguin's cry session and Law's seizure.
Luffy hummed the song playing from her phone. She tapped the lose earbud in her ear and continued to prance down the street.
Love, let's talk about love
Is it anything and everything you hoped for?
Or do the feeling haunt you?
I know the feeling haunt you?
This song reminded Luffy of her current predicament. The feeling of love does haunt her, more than she ever thought it could. Luffy started to run, she is on a morning jog to clear her mind. She doesn't do this often, but when she does, it means she is troubled by something. Right now, Luffia is conflicted about everything. How can such a beautiful emotion hurt so bad.
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
This maybe the night that my dreams might let me know
All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer, all the stars are closer
Luffy has always been a star in the night sky. Even with darkness engulfing her, she still shines. Yet… right now… she feels like the only star in the sky. I have never felt so alone. Not since I met Zoro. A chirp from her phone interrupted her thought. She picked up her phone and swiped up to see the text. It was Nami.
Busy? Me and Usopp are going to the movies. Chopper and Sanji might be coming as well?
Luffy frowned, she wasn't in the mood to talk.
Na
I'm on a run
Have fun though!
Nami replied quickly.
Oh? Zoro is coming too.
Luffy felt her eyes water from the mention of her best friend.
No, thank you though.
Luffy put her phone away and unpaused her music.
Tell me what you gon' do to me
Confrontation ain't nothin' new to me
You can bring a bullet, bring a sword
Bring a morgue, but you can't bring the truth to me-
Luffy skipped the song when more tears started to roll down her face. Why can't I get him out of my head? Whenever I try, the pain doubles. I love him, and because of that… I'm going to lose him. Why can't I just get it through my mind? He doesn't love me, and there's nothing I can do to change that. Why does the truth hurt so fucking much?
The new song played.
I'm not scared of the dark
I'm not running, running, running
No, I'm not afraid of the fall
I'm not scared, not at all-
Ugh! No! Luffy skipped the song again and began running again.
The next song
What, are you scared of me? That's embarassin'
If it wasn't for me, you would've never wrote Therapy
I've been here for you, but how come you're never there for me?
It's a little bit twisted, but I miss when you and I had scary dreams
I don't really wanna talk about it
Well, that's too bad now, Nate, shut up!
Now where were we?
Luffy couldn't tell if her heart rate was increasing because of the run, or because of the song. The song made anger boil up inside of her, she tried to direct the anger on Zoro... but she couldn't. It was as if he was a mirror, the anger reflected onto her. She felt as if she wasn't good enough, every step she took made her self-confidence shrink.
Way back in the day when
You and I had it all mapped out in the basement
Cryin' in your room like a baby
"I wish mom was here"
We all do—so we wouldn't have to hear about it
Every single record you don't really wanna change me
Yeah, I'm the one that made this happen
Do you really wanna get rid of your main attraction?
At this time, she found herself apologizing. Sorry I wasn't good enough for you. I'm sorry I can't be good enough for you… no matter how much I want to be. Did I do something wrong? What is wrong with me? I wish you could tell me so I could fix it.
The song kept playing, adding more warm water to her eyes. She stopped when her legs began to ache. She crouched down and tried to gather air back into her lungs. When her heart rate calmed down, she looked up and saw she ended up outside a cafe. Might as well eat something.
Luffy walked into the packed cafe. There were two lines connecting to the front to help separate the crowds. Luffy picked the line closest to her. It didn't take that long for her to get to the front. She already knows what she wants, their last donut. Luffy licked her lips when she saw the massive treat. Amazing!
Luffy wasn't the only one keeping a watchful eye on the delicious treat. Which she soon found out when…
"I would like your last donut please." Two voices said in unison. The cashier looked at both the customers with a confused look, "um, which one of you are next?"
"Me." they both answered again.
Luffy snapped her head to face the man, well more like she turned her head and looked up. The man was taller than Kid! He had leather pants, an open leather jacket, and a fluffy scarf around his neck and mouth. The open jacket exposed his stunning body and light purple tattoo that spreads across it. His eyes were a purplish crimson and his lower lashes were longer than his top ones. To top it all off, he had messy purple hair. Luffy had to admit, he is good-looking. A lump formed in her throat from their height difference.
"I was first." she said, her tone a little softer than before.
The tall man studied the short woman. High cheekbones, soft skin, round and innocent eyes. Was she crying? He noticed her eyes were a tad bit puffier than normal, but shrugged it off. She wore sneakers, black leggings and a red crop top. Her body was fit, even though the woman looked like a doll. Yet something about her eyes… He looked back up at the black orbs. Something about those innocent and adventurous eyes excite him. How strange.
"No you weren't" the man said in a casual tone. He turned away and then pointed at the donut, "can I have my donut now?"
"Hey don't ignore me!" Luffy whined. She sounds like a spoiled brat. The man turned his head to the woman with a blank stare, "I came first." he stated and turned around again.
Luffy snorted, "fine then, but you owe me."
The man raised a brow, "I don't owe you anything." when the cashier was about to hand him the donut, Luffy snatched it. The man's eyes narrowed in anger, "what the hell, give it." His tone was low and murderous. It made the cashier shiver, but not the girl. "Then you have to buy me something at the shop next over."
The man's eyebrow twitched at her request, but sighed. "Whatever." He must really want this donut. Luffy smiled and handed the man his treat, for some reason, she feels as if he'd keep his word.
The woman bounced out the store and twirled around the sidewalk. The man stiffened at the stares he was getting from the people walking by. "What is your name?" the woman asked. She doesn't know who I am? Doesn't she go to NWSH, yet she hasn't heard of me? How strange? "My name is Charlotte Katakuri." The brunette spun to face him and blinked a few times. Her beautiful lashes and innocent eyes made Katakuri shiver.
What is with this girl? Something about her isn't natural.
"Kat-a-yoh- forget it! I'm calling you Kat! Shishishi! My name is Luffia! You can call me Luffy!" Katakuri blinked a few times before fully understanding what the woman said. "I would rather you call me my name."
His request was shut down, "no! It's too hard. In exchange you can call me Lu!" Katakuri kept trying to push off the silly nickname but Luffy didn't let it go. Katakuri is stubborn in his own right, but this woman is a whole new level.
When they made it to the other diner, Luffy, or Lu as she insisted, ordered half of the menu. Katakuri was so amazed by the small girl's appetite, he didn't realize he was paying for it. "Why don't you eat Kat?" the woman asked. Somehow, the older man got stuck eating with the woman.
Kat put his arm over the top of the booth and leaned against the seat. "My mouth freaks people out, I rather not." Luffy stopped shoving food in her mouth and took one big gulp. White frosting sat at the corner of her lip as she spoke. "Can I see? I wanna see!" Instead of answering. The older man gave an intense glare to the taunting leftovers stuck on her pink lips. For some reason it is bothering him. His gloved hand came up and whipped it off her mouth. Luffy gave him a big smile in return.
Why am I doing this? What is this girl doing to me? "Fine." Kat muttered and pulled on the scarf that covers his mouth. Two small fangs poked out of his lips, and the sides of his face were stitched up.
What the hell am I doing!? Kat covered himself up again, but was surprised to see innocent eyes shining at him. "Cool! You're so cool Kat! Can you be my friend! You are my friend! Show me again!"
And that is how Luffy wormed her way into Katakuri's heart. Flashback ended.
Shanks has to admit, his life is going great! Not only because he is dating the fabulous and amazing Makino! She knows about his identity. At this point, you can't say a handful of people know about his identity. There is his crew, his father's crew, most of Lu's crew, Izo, Marco, Kid, Thatch, some of Law's crew, Sengoku, Garp, Dragon, Koala. Yeah… the Gol D.'s isn't good with secrets. Hell! I don't know how we lasted this long!
The love-struck redhead looked towards his green haired beauty. How long has he been dating Makino? Almost a month? How long has he known her? Two or three? Then why the hell do I feel like I'm fucking flying when I see her!? "I love you Shanks." oh, yeah, that is why.
"Huh?" Shanks jerked his head up from his staring position. Right now he is at home, having a fancy dinner with him, Makino, his mother, and his father. Yeah… so you missed that. To be honest, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Maybe it's because of how he found out.
Mini Flashback
The couple were in a heated argument. So heated that they didn't notice the door unlock and two figures watching the fight.
Makino walked away from her boyfriend with a huff, "no Shanks." the redhead frowned at his stubborn girlfriend and began to follow her. They ended up in front of the couch, giving the two spectators a perfect view to what's going on.
"It was a C Makino; I'll do better next time I swear! Please let me kiss you." Shanks's kicked puppy dog eyes didn't work on the ruthless Makino. "No Shanks! I won't let your grades suffer from our relationship! I am your tutor and girlfriend, if I fail at one, I fail at both. So, like I said before, that means no touching which means no sex Shanks." the woman crossed her arms over her torso and puffed out her chest.
Her serious expression gave Shanks a chill. "But… but… Makino! You're really good at it!" he whined.
Makino kept her tough exterior, "I know, and now you'll have to work for it. Or am I not worth fighting for? Hm? Strawberry boy." The woman placed one hand on her hip and an accusing finger on his chest.
Shanks groaned, "you are, you are, that much is obvious. But Makino." Shanks wrapped his arms around Makino to bring her closer. He didn't kiss her like he wanted to. He knows the woman would go on another rant if he did. "I love you, I don't think I can last that long without you."
Makino's gaze soften, "well, you will have too. But I won't make it as painful. You can kiss me on the cheek, and the cheek only." Shanks smiled at his girlfriend and placed dozens of kisses on her cheek. That's when he noticed the two figures.
"M-mom! D-a-d!"
Flashback ended
For some reason, their father wasn't upset. He even laughed when he saw our exchange, but that didn't stop him from grilling Makino. Of course, the competitive girlfriend lived up to his expectations and challenges. She even scored a 100% on the test he made! Yeah… weird. But still, Shanks couldn't be happier.
"I love you too, Makino."
And I will forever love you. No matter what may happen in the future.
/! 5/-=-=-/! 5/
YEP! I MADE IT A LOVE TRIANGLE! BET YOU DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING! I needed to get this chapter out of the way so we can go back to the evil things! I'm so happy I got to introduce Katakuri! He is one of my favorites, I don't want to say why in case people aren't there in the story.
I can't believe this story is over 100,000 words! I'm so proud!
Oh, so the story is half way done? Maybe a little less? But I already have another idea for ASL (with the addition of Law and Shanks) but I'll tell you about that later!
The songs were, All Stars, Intro 3, Scared of the dark. Don't ask why I picked those songs, I was just watching Black Panther and thought of it. I'm random.
Like, Comment, or Whatever!