A/N: I'm beginning to realize why people do monthly updates. After writing so many chapters in the span of a few days I changed to one chapter a week. Now that I've done one chapter a week I'm considering making this a monthly update story AFTER I'm done with the Conomi Islands. Partly because Idie inside every time I have to make the choice of hanging out with friends and family or continuing the story. Partly because school will be returning soon and college is stressful enough without the added deadline of this. Long story short, I apologize in advance but for the sake of maintaining the quality of the story and my sanity, AFTER the Conomi Islands this story may experience fluctuating upload times. When I'm free or am inspired af expect bursts of chapters and when I'm dying during exam week nada.

'Thoughts'

"Speaking"

'Quotes/Emphasis'

"Techniques"

'The Wolf Within'

"Luffy's words are echoed/amplified by the Wolf Within"

'Luffy's thoughts are overlapped by the Wolf Within'

And so to Cocoyashi Village, We go!

LUFFY'S POV

While Nami continued her inspection of the plunder, Ghin came to and groggily took in his surroundings, stopping when his gaze fell on Don Krieg's twitching form that had begun spewing out gas along with the blood.

"Don Krieg!" Stumbling forward to the incapacitated Pirate Captain, Ghin's face was twisted in worry and disbelief before he turned to his crew. "What happened?! Who did this to him?!"

Leaving Nami to continue her inspection and Usopp and Sanji to sulk, for different reasons, I walked over to the agitated Vice Captain to answer his question and finish things up. "I did. Krieg pulled out a gas weapon called MH5 and shot it at us, probably would've been a death sentence to most of them as well." Ghin paled a bit hearing the weapon, realizing he, Pearl and some of the other unconscious crew would have been killed as well without their gas masks. "I just grabbed the sphere and shoved it down his throat though so he's the only one experiencing the effects, as you can see."

Ghin's mouth trembled slightly before it set in a firm slime and, to the shock of his crew, he kowtowed before me, planting his forehead down to the floorboards with a loud smack.

"You've proven yourself the stronger Captain! Please, Emperor's son, we surrender! We'll leave peacefully, I swear!" Ghin begged, pressing his forehead further down into the floorboards while his crew began protesting.

"Ghin what are you doing?!"

"He may have beat Krieg but we can still take him!"

"Emperor's Son? Then he's nothing but a snotty brat, no way are we surrendering to bastards like him!"

Gritting his teeth in frustration, Ghin broke his submissive posture and raised his head to lash out at his crewmates. "Quiet, all of ye'!" The crew's protest died down seeing the panic and fear in their Vice Captain's eyes, an expression they'd never seen before, even when Krieg was pissed at him. "This ain't a snotty brat of some privileged shithead, this is the son of one of the four emperors of the sea! The rulers of the Grand Line!"

Gasps rang out from the Krieg Pirates, and some of the Baratie Cooks who hadn't known, before the enemy pirates began backing away from us, falling on their knees in despair and bursting into hysterics or still adamant about not surrendering.

"You'd bow to someone, Ghin?" The Vice Captain flinched before he turned around to see Krieg had stood up, clearly not all there with the pure white eyes and trembling form, and towered over him threateningly. "You'd sully my reputation, the reputation of the Krieg Pirates like this?! You bastard, I'll rip you to pieces!"

"All right, you're not worth even torturing." I decided, raising my hand up to his face and coating it in armament and moonlight right before flicking my finger at his forehead.

SPLAT! SPLURK! THUD!

And so the 'Great' Foul Play Don Krieg's life came to an abrupt end as his headless body lay down onto the deck, pouring blood out to spread on the floorboards.

"Ah shit." Cursing myself for the oversight I turned and bowed to Zeff who didn't look disturbed in the slightest about the execution, he just looked annoyed. "Sorry about the floorboard, sir. I'll have it cleaned up."

Turning to Usopp who gaped at the blood pouring out the body, a little green around the gills, I gave out my order. "Usopp…clean this up ok? Thanks." Internally I smirked hearing the shark toothed protest and grumbles as he walked over and disposed of Krieg's body in the ocean before mopping the blood. Nami was undisturbed by the spectacle, only giving the headless body a glance before returning to her appraisal of the loot. Sanji didn't comment on it either, in favor of pulling out another cancer stick to smoke. Patty and Carne stared for a few seconds before shrugging it off and going over to Zeff to ask if he needed anything done about the rest of the crooks still onboard.

Of course the relative silence wasn't kept up for long as the Baratie cooks who were just normal civilians without any background in piracy began screaming in fear, the Krieg pirates adding to the noise but with more horror, disbelief and anger over their Captain's death. Ghin stared blankly at the blood Usopp was mopping off the floor, the only evidence of Krieg's swift death, before gulping nervously and returning to his kowtow position, trembling more than ever waiting for my response. He didn't even lash out on his crewmates this time as most of them actually joined him in taking the submissive posture, wordlessly begging for their worthless lives to continue.

'…Thoughts, wolf?'

'Leave Ghin alive.'

'Oh? Just Ghin?'

'Always leave at least one alive, pup,' I scrunched up my face at that, not really getting why. 'Why do you think I made no mention of Jango's escape back on Syrup?'

'Ah, so you did notice the rat getting away. If there's a reason to let one live, why let Alvida's crew, and Buggy's for that matter, all live, only sporting bruises.'

'Those were all your choices. You never asked for my input or thoughts on them.'

'Hmm, well you're not wrong…So mind telling me why I should let only one live?'

'One must always leave one man alive, to begin the legend, to spread the tale.' The wolf bastard was grinning sadistically as he said all this.

'That's your excuse for doing it…you want to leave broken husks of victims, too broken to fight for anything but unwilling to end themselves…that's why you singled out Ghin, he'll break, he'll likely never pick up a blade again as well…but he'll live to spread my name and my infamy.'

'I confess to doing this for my twisted cathartic pleasure…but it does serve a purpose…spreading your name and infamy…you've even figured out why I singled out Ghin.'

'Yeah, I have.' Erupting my hands into black flames, I shaved past every other Krieg Pirate on the ship, cutting through them with my long clawed hands before returning to stand in front of Ghin as if nothing had happened. For a moment it seemed nothing did happen, I just vanished then returned, at least, that's how it looked to everyone except my crew and Zeff.

'We leave one alive, one who wouldn't off themselves afterwards and carry on to spread the legends in every tavern they enter, everyone and anyone who'd give them the time of day to listen. We do this to spread our name, pup, we leave one alive because…'

"Only you know everything that happened here, Ghin." The Vice Captain raised his head to look at me with confusion, not understanding the meaning behind the statement. His face was very telling, his thoughts were probably 'Was I letting him go, so he could spread my infamy? Or was I saying I'd kill him as well so I'd remain away from the Marine's radar for a while longer?'

Ghin got his answer when one by one his comrades began bursting into black flames and screaming in pain. They rolled around the deck but the flames never went out, and didn't even seem to harm or damage the ship in any way. Some jumped overboard and into the ocean but still they burned, and burned…until only ashes remained.

"W-Why? We surrendered…We didn't want to fight anymore…Why only me?" Ghin's face twisted in rage as he turned back to me with angry tears cascading down his face. "Why leave me alive?!"

"Because only you know everything that happened here, only you can spread what happened here today…what will continue to happen to anyone else who crosses us…" The smirk of twisted delight on my face froze the man kneeling before me, the fear and despair setting in. He was the last of his crew…and he would be the one to deliver the message. "We leave one alive Ghin, at least one, after all…"

Ghin shook where he kneeled, absolutely terrified as I placed my hand on his shoulder like we we're old buddies catching up. I kneeled down to his level as well and brought my lips to his ears, concentrating a little bit of moonlight and Conqueror's into my voice for the clincher. "Dead Men Tell No Tales."

NO ONE'S POV

The concentrated blast of Conqueror's Haki mixed with moonlight knocked the last Krieg Pirate out cold, his body limply crashing down into the deck. Luffy looked down at the man for a few moments before fishing out a pouch of gold from his pocket.

"Get him a raft, a map, a compass and about a month's worth of provisions." Luffy tossed the pouch over to Patty who fumbled a bit to catch it. The disproportionate cook didn't look pleased about having to do something for the Krieg Pirate but with one look into the amount in the pouch, he was back to his creepy patronizing smiles.

"Right away, ya crook!" Patty jovially stated before running off to carry out the command.

Luffy was quiet for a moment longer watching the Baratie cooks getting over their shock and horror enough to return into the restaurant, partly to get back to work and partly to get away from Luffy. The wolfman then turned to his fiance, "So how much more hell am I gonna have to put Usopp through?"

Behind Luffy, Usopp flinched as he stood straight as a pillar before turning to Nami with pleading eyes. The navigator's sweet smile did not put him at ease.

"Since Sanji will be joining us, I think private sessions with both him and Zoro should help." Nami answered, moving to sling the bag of loot over her shoulder only for Luffy to do it for her. "I can carry that, you know."

"Yeah…do you want to?" Luffy inquired moving to drop the bag back down but stopped with a smirk as Nami shook her head as she planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Nah, you already got it." Nami looked pleased for a moment before she gave Luffy a cold look. "And next time you want to test Usopp, don't drag me into it."

"No promi-Yes dear." Luffy chuckled, shivering slightly under Nami's withering glare and Usopp's depressed form underneath a miniature rain cloud. 'Yeah I'm not questioning that.' Luffy decided, figuring trying to make sense of the creation of such phenomena that make things more dramatic were more hassle than they were worth. "Usopp, since you came out of the restaurant you must have passed him."

Usopp's overdramatic display came to an abrupt halt as the marksman coughed into a closed fist before standing up and dusting himself off. "Yeah, he's in there…He really your uncle, Luffy?"

"Yeah…I lost my cool back there when Zoro fell. Didn't even bother checking on how Mihawk ended their duel…just jumped and attacked." Luffy smiled wryly, evidently still disappointed in himself before he sighed. "All right, let's head in. Let those two have their moment."

Luffy, Nami and Usopp quietly made their way into the restaurant leaving Zeff and Sanji to themselves, the pair of chefs having made their way to a railing and seemed to be having their final goodbyes.

Inside the restaurant, on a window side table, sat Mihawk. The swordsman had a clear view of the whole spectacle as he had a dish similar to the one Luffy had when he'd first arrived. A fragrant, tender, juicy Filet Mignon, medium-rare, served with aromatic sauteed vegetables and light fluffy mashed potatoes paired with a glass of wine, from a bottle similar to the one Luffy received from Zeff when they first met.

"Quite the execution." Mihawk commented, a sake cup in his hands. "Come, we have much to discuss, nephew."

Luffy took the offer and sat opposite of Mihawk, pouring a cup of sake for himself when the older man gestured to the bottle. Nami and Usopp both stood a bit behind Luffy, unsure of what they should do…do they stand behind him like bodyguards or sit with him?

"Usopp, go order us some lunch, to go. Order some for Johnny and Yosaku as well, I assume they're still on the ship watching over Zoro?" Usopp nodded to Luffy's question before saluting, Luffy's eye twitched at that, and walked off to perform his task. Nami squirmed and fidgeted nervously, now the only one under Mihawk's intimidating gaze. "Nami, take a seat. Join us."

The navigator looked like she wanted to protest but resigned with her fate with a nervous gulp when Mihawk poured sake into another cup and placed it near the seat next to Luffy. The navigator took a seat and mentally scolded herself, 'Get a grip, Nami. This isn't you! You're a beautiful, confident, young woman who's stolen from more pirates than anyone else in the East Blue! No reason to be nervous before your fiance's uncle…not at all…right?'

While Nami was having a mental breakdown, too distressed to notice Luffy and Mihawk's amused expressions, her boyfriend decided to get the ball rolling. "You know about the silver flame."

"Shanks told me all about it, your devil fruit and its true history with the Void Century." Mihawk answered still with an amused smirk as Nami looked up from her internal debate with curiosity. "Doesn't seem you've filled my niece-to-be in on the full story."

Nami flushed briefly before she pouted at me. "To be honest I only know what little Shanks told me about before he returned to the Grand Line." From there I explained it as I knew it. The previous users of my devil fruit were known to become kings or emperors with powers that made them nigh on unbeatable, typically being usurpers and enemies of governments with the exception of the last known user. The last one hadn't usurped any kingdom and neither was he one to pick a fight with the government, of course the government didn't see it that way and didn't want to take any chances. Unfortunately for them, the last user was affiliated with "The Great Kingdom" and virtually untouchable…at least until the kingdom's fall to The Alliance. After the fall, the previous user had secluded himself far from the reaches of the Alliance, what would go one to become the World Government, and died presumably of old age. The fruit gave immense power that made one nigh on invincible but it wasn't one that granted immortality, a fact that I was honestly happy with.

"You're not interested in immortality?" Nami asked, her voice containing genuine curiosity, devoid of judgment.

"What would be the point? I live forever while those I love crumble to dust?" Even just thinking about such a fate sent shivers down my spine…to be immortal meant losing everything, everyone. I had no desires for such a cursed existence.

"Smart choice." Mihawk said before he pulled out a sheathed blade, a cutlass. It had a yellow hilt with a diamond shaped pattern, a golden guard and a thinner hand guard running atop the hilt. Nami didn't give much thought to the simple if not elegant looking blade at first but Luffy's reaction made her curiosity soar. "Shanks had made a stop at the South Blue a few months back…came across this one when he went to pay his respects in Baterilla."

Luffy didn't make any comment, his form trembling ever since the sheathed blade was brought out and placed before him. Nami was beginning to be concerned with his behavior however and broke him out of his stupor. "Luffy? What's wrong?" She asked, placing a hand on his shoulder while gazing worryingly at him. "You look…frazzled. What's special about-"

"This is —." Luffy gulped nervously as he unsheathed the blade and admired the saw hamon pattern adorned on its sides. "The blade of —."

Now it was Nami's turn to be speechless as her eyes widened into saucers, looking at the seemingly simple cutlass in a new light.

"Shanks wanted you to have it…or at least for you to decide if either you or that hot headed brother of yours should." Mihawk explained, taking a sip from his drink before commenting further. "Of the three of you I believe, Sabo could use it best in terms of technical skill though."

"But only Ace and I could ever wield it like he did." Luffy supplied before blinking rapidly and taking his eyes off the sword to focus them on Mihawk. "Wait how do you-"

"Shanks is as bad as Yassop when he talks about you." Mihawk answered before Luffy could even finish, the response causing the wolfman to blush in embarrassment, much to his girlfriend's mirth. "He learned about Ace and Sabo when the former tracked him down to thank him for all he did for you. After that, the next time I had drinks with him, Shanks talked my ear off about the new stories he got about you."

"Oh dear lord above, strike me down." Luffy groaned as he placed his head in his hands to hide in shame. Nami and Mihawk shared a laugh at the wolfman's expense, the tense mood between the two gone. Well Nami's tense mood, Mihawk couldn't care less about judging or critiquing who Luffy was dating. "So…this blade is mine now?"

Luffy sheathed the blade again as Mihawk smirked wryly before responding. "Naturally. Shanks must have drank a bit too much if he ever believed Ace would accept that blade."

Luffy and Mihawk chuckled, knowing how ridiculous such a hope would be. Nami was puzzled. She knew Ace and Sabo from the stories Luffy would share with her in their bedroom but there wasn't anything about him that indicated not accepting the blade. Luffy noticed her questioning glance and promised he'd explain later in private.

"This is for that archer of yours. His father had some ideas for a weapon or tool for him to pick up and learn." Mihawk brought out a wrapped package and placed it on the table. "Many tall tales have apparently made their way into the Grand Line about a, uh, long nosed liar." The three all smirked as Usopp blushed in embarrassment stumbling in his walk to the ship when he overheard that little tidbit. Sanji, who'd been walking behind him, glared down at the marksman who he'd ended up bumping into.

"So what's dad been up to these days?" Luffy inquired as he took a sip out of his sake. Nami quietly drank her sake beside him, not having any questions and content with just listening. "Aside from the occasional mention of drinking taverns out of business he hasn't been seen in any news lately."

"Under the table, he's been very active actually." Mihawk's light mood was dropped as they delved into more serious matters. "Merry as he is, your father has been busy hunting down a certain man, one whose actions have earned not only Shank's ire but Whitebeard's as well."

"Whitebeard? What did this guy do to get Whitebeard and Shanks on his case?" Luffy knew the two of them to be jovial individuals, Whitebeard obviously less so but still he wasn't the kind of guy to hold a grudge unless… "Did this jackass attack one of Whitebeard's sons?"

Mihawk observed Luffy for a moment, wondering if telling the young man about this was a mistake… 'No…With his brother also out on the hunt it's best he be aware of the situation, maybe smack some sense into the hothead if they cross paths.'

"Marshall D. Teach, former member of the Whitebeard Pirates…defected after attacking and supposedly killing one of his crewmates for a devil fruit."

SHATTER!

The glass in Luffy's hand broke into pieces and some sake mixed with blood dripped from his hand. Nami reprimanded him for his action but Luffy was too livid to care, the wolf within siding with him on this matter. "He attacked one of his own?!"

"For a Devil Fruit, a very powerful logia type, one that like yours would make the user a near perfect counter for any other Devil Fruit User." Mihawk sighed internally. Luffy may be Shank's adopted son and carries many of the carefree man's ideologies but when it came to pirate crews he was almost exactly like Whitebeard. "You would likely be the sole exception to that."

Luffy, while absolutely furious about someone turning on their own, took in his Uncle's words seriously. A logia that makes them the perfect counter to Devil Fruit Users? There's only one Logia it could be then. "Greedy bastard turned on his brother for that fruit? It isn't even as invincible as it sounds!"

Nami still fussed over his bleeding hand while Mihawk leaned back against his chair, nodding to show he agreed with Luffy's words. "It isn't in the grand scheme of things but it's still a very powerful fruit, and Marshall D. Teach isn't a brainless wannabe pirate Luffy." Mihawk gave Luffy a very pointed look, one that said to calm down now. "The man acts like an aloof simpleton but he's not. He spent years on Whitebeard's ship for the chance of coming across that specific logia, he's crafty, intelligent and undoubtedly strong, even without the fruit. He's the one who gave Shanks the scar on his eye, Luffy."

That piece of information gave Luffy pause. Shanks was a very powerful pirate, he was Yonko for god's sakes, and yet a crew member of the Whitebeard pirates had been able to leave a scar on him? "So he isn't just another Krieg or Buggy."

"No, he most certainly is not. I would advise against confronting him any time soon, there are too many unknowns about him as of right now." Mihawk affirmed as he stood up, preparing to leave. "While you would certainly come out on top, your crew would most certainly perish."

Nami tensed and paused in her tending of Luffy's wounds at the reminder that as of now they were holding Luffy back. It seemed like she was going to have another self-deprecating episode but she recalled the level of individuals they were talking about her, Seasoned New World Pirates having their way with East Blue Rookies? It was a no brainer when you thought about it…didn't make it any less frustrating though.

"Your brother is hunting him actually, Teach was under his division." Luffy stiffened before his eyes hardened. He knew Ace wouldn't let it go, and furthermore probably didn't even consider how royally fucked he was in the Devil Fruit match up alone. "Shanks asks you to knock some sense into him if you run into him, a request echoed by Whitebeard himself."

"Whitebeard knows me?"

"Shanks and Edward are on good terms you know, they drink together occasionally and like I said, your father's as bad as Yassop." Mihawk chuckled as Luffy groaned at the reminder. "Even without those, though I suspect Ace talks the old man's ear off about you anyway."

'Well…your social life in the New World before it could even begin.'

'Shut up.'

"Oh one more thing, Luffy." Mihawk reached into his pocket and brought out a black snail, private den den mushi designed to not have its calls traced or tapped. "You can use this to get into contact with Shanks and Garp, their numbers are already imprinted on it."

With that Mihawk made his way out of the restaurant Nami and Luffy stood up from the table and made their way to Going Merry, the wolfman locking the sheathed blade unto his belt and grabbing Yassop's package. The navigator was quiet, giving the wolfman reproachful looks, still miffed about how he hurt himself earlier but mostly she was lost in thought. The history of Luffy's Devil Fruit, the acquisition of the blade and who it's previous wielder was…and the news about a threat lurking around in the Grand Line.

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, Nami." Luffy slung an arm around Nami's shoulder, bringing his lover closer, giving her a kiss on the head. "For now, we sail to Cocoyashi…and I fulfill my end of the bargain."

Nami was silent for a moment longer before she gave Luffy a conflicted look, causing her captain to give her a questioning look.

"Don't tell me you're doubting my ability to deal with those fishsticks again?" Nami shook her head rapidly at the incredulous notion.

"No, you'll make his death long and excruciating, I know that…I look forward to that." Nami responded with a twisted smile before frowning again. "It's…There's one fishman I'd like to spare."

This got Luffy's curiosity. One personality trait Luffy associated with his girlfriend was a deep hatred for all fishmen, a problem he'd planned on addressing on a later date. 'Looks like her hatred isn't as deep as I thought.'

Nami was able to guess what was going through her lover's mind and she scoffed. "I know not all fishmen are evil, a lot of them are pricks sure." Luffy had a laugh at that, it was true after all. While many fishmen weren't monsters they were generally egotistical supremacists. "It's the same thing with humans, some humans are good, some are evil, and some are just assholes…like Sanji."

Luffy raised his brow in amusement, deciding to tackle the prejudice against Sanji first. "Isn't Sanji a gentleman?"

"He's an idiot who thinks more with his dick than his brain if he's facing a woman." Nami spat out venomously. "Yes, I like guys like them when they're ones I plan on stealing from, but as a teammate?"

"Hmm, Sanji certainly does take his 'chivalry' and 'respect for women' to a new level…but it could be worse." Nami gave Luffy an unimpressed look. "He could refuse to fight at all with women. Besides I'm pretty sure it's both a front to catch people off guard…and something about his past."

Nami considered Luffy's words for a moment, it was certainly true from the tales Zeff had shared with them before during their many meals in the restaurant. While Sanji would explicitly not deal any bodily harm to women through battle he wasn't just gonna stand there and take a beating. He was also definitely aware of how ridiculous his 'code' was, and even used it's incredulousness to his advantage in dumbfounding the Krieg Pirates. Furthermore…if he did know how nonsensical his policy was but still kept it…it likely did stem from a past trauma.

"...Still don't like it." Luffy laughed at his girlfriend's childishness on the topic before moving to address the previous subject.

"So who am I sparing, and why?"

"An octopus fishman, Hachi." Nami answered with a little fond smile that was accompanied with pained eyes. "He isn't like the rest of Arlong's crew…actually gets along pretty well with the villagers. They don't cower in fear of him…I've even seen him having drinks and laughs with them when Arlong's not looking."

"Hachi sometimes even gives some money to the villagers who are struggling…and he tries alleviating Arlong's cruelty whenever he can." Luffy was smiling as he heard more about this strangely human-friendly fishman. "I think he's just stuck to Arlong because that's how he's lived most of his life…like the sweet friendly kid who ends up following the school bully around because he wouldn't get picked on."

"But he isn't able to stop Arlong completely, is he?" Luffy inquired, a sad knowing smile on his face.

"No…he isn't. Hachi is honestly pretty weak compared to most of Arlong's crew." Nami admitted with a sad smile. "Told me about his dream once…wanted to open a Takoyaki Shop on the seas to Fishman Island…Hachi is the only one who wasn't cruel to me, he brought me drinks and books sometimes…he just can't go against Arlong."

"Any other characteristics aside from Octopus Fishman?"

"Well…he's the only Octopus Fishman of the Arlong Pirates…" Nami contemplated what other features Hachi had before she snapped her fingers. "Oh he does have this red sun tattoo in between his eyes. Arlong and a few others of his crew have it as well but it's on their…chest areas…Luffy?" Nami turned to her boyfriend questioningly as the wolfman's eyes bugged wide open.

"A red sun? You're sure?" Luffy separated from Nami's side to clutch her shoulders tightly. Nami winced and Luffy let go, "Ah! Sorry I-"

"No, it's fine Luffy, more importantly…What's important about the red sun tattoo?" Nami never asked Hachi about it or any of the other Arlong Pirates that bore the mark, but with the way Luffy's attitude changed she was starting to think she should have.

"The Red Sun is the symbol of the Sun Pirates…A pirate group led by the Warlord, Jinbei, the Knight of the Sea." Luffy explained to Nami but his eyes were filled with confusion. "But that's not possible…Arlong has this mark as well? The red sun?"

"Yeah…Why is this not making sense, exactly? Is it Arlong being here instead of the Grand Line with this, Jinbei, the problem?" Nami had heard the name of the fishman warlord being tossed around during her time as a thief but she never gave it much thought, she doesn't even know what he looks like.

"Nami…Jinbei became a Warlord in order to push for Fishman-Human equality, something his crew avidly supports him in doing…except…" Luffy's eyes widened remembering one of the details his grandpa told him about the warlord. "Except his brother…"

Nami's own eyes widened in disbelief…her home was under the rule of a tyrant who was the brother of a Warlord? Is that why the Marines didn't do anything? Her small village being a small price to pay? Was this their definition of Fishman-Human equality? Let the monsters like Arlong have their way with the 'lower classes' of Humanity? The navigator was filled with unchained fury at the notion, Luffy on the other hand just burst in laughter causing Nami to stare at him in confusion and a little pain. What was her suffering amusing? She had no illusions that her boyfriend had rather twisted tendencies but this?

'No! No, that isn't Luffy!' Nami reprimanded herself while Luffy breathed in and out deeply. 'To his enemies maybe but not to his friends, not to his family…not to me.'

"Nami, what Marine base is in charge of your village?" Luffy had a shit eating grin on his face before he took in his girlfriend's upset appearance and frowned. "Ah…that was insensitive of me, I'm sorry Nami."

"Forget it, you probably figured something out so spill it." Nami waved off Luffy's apology, knowing him well enough to deduce he was just being an impulsive moron again. "And it's the 16th branch in the East Blue, what does that have to do with your mirth over this?"

Luffy had no qualms with gracing his face in a twisted smile. "My love, Jimbei is a fishman of his word! He pushes for Fishman-Human equality and yet his former subordinate, his brother no less, goes and does something as atrocious as this?" Luffy's manic grin was enhanced by the sadistic light in his eyes. "A brother he freed from Impel Down with one condition, 'Never harm innocent humans or I'll put you down myself.'"

Nami wasn't sure what to do with that, before she realized something. Arlong had been in the Conomi islands for 8 years and yet the Warlord hadn't done anything to keep his promise. There were two possible reasons for that. Either Jinbei wasn't the fishman of his word that Luffy confidently says him to be…or the Marine base in charge of the Conomi Islands were in league with Arlong and making sure word of his exploits remained in the East Blue where Jinbei wouldn't hear of them.

"My Grandfather vouches for Jinbei being a noble individual Nami, and you know Gramp's reputation for his assessment of people." Oh she did…that made the fury she felt come crashing back like a tsunami.

"You're telling me the Marines, the ones meant to protect civilians, have let that-that-that MONSTER reign on my hometown WILLINGLY?!" Nami was livid, absolutely and unequivocally livid but Luffy's sadistic mirth didn't diminish in the slightest.

"Love…I have a proposal for you." Luffy placed his hands on his queen's thighs as he lifted her up to stare up at her with the most sadistic, twisted look in his eyes that Nami had ever seen. At first his eyes disturbed her but as she listened more and more to his proposal…oh was she beginning to love that look.

By the end of it, the wolf's queen shared the same twisted light in her own eyes as she agreed with his…modifications to their agreement enthusiastically.

SANJI'S POV

'So, a pirate's life for me, eh?' I mused to myself as I followed Usopp to the Going Merry, my new home away from home. 'Not that that place was ever actually a home.'

The two bounty hunter's were above deck to greet us, the crazy swordsman was in the men's barracks recovering soundly, apparently. Usopp carried the lunches towards the kitchen after he pointed me in the direction of the men's barracks. I gave him my thanks before walking off to drop my luggage over, after that I would be able to see what kind of workshop I'd be having on this ship.

'Most likely just the essentials.' It wasn't particularly a big problem if the kitchen had only the bare essentials at the moment. There would be plenty of opportunities to purchase more utensils for other dishes later.

Inside the barracks, on one of the hammocks far inside slept the green haired alcoholic nutbag himself. The hammock directly to his side was cluttered with gears, wires, and tools. 'So Usopp's also a tinkerer.' Setting my stuff on the hammock right by the door, directly next to a window, I kept my eyes on the swordsman, Zoro, a little longer before walking out the barracks.

On the way out I could see twiddle dee and twiddle dumb murmuring amongst each other as they peeked over the ship. Curious, I went over to check out what caught their interest and upon learning what it was…well those two know better than to spy on a couple having intimate moments from now on.

"Bro Cook, why?"

"What did we even do?"

Ok, maybe not. Instead of explaining however I just sighed disappointedly at them before continuing on my way to the kitchen. Once I got in, I waved to Usopp in greeting while the archer offered a hello before going back to setting the table. '...Well he has been here longer than I have.'

"Usopp, could you tell me about your journey so far?" While keeping an ear open to listen to the tale, I set about making a little something for my injured comrade. "How'd you meet Luffy and the others?"

"Hmm? Oh well you see, I the Great-"

"The truth please. I'd like to know what my new family is genuinely like." Usopp deflated a little at being cut off before rubbing his nose with a sheepish chuckle.

"Hahahaha, gotcha. Ok, so to be honest I'm actually…"

Long story short, Usopp was the third to be recruited into Luffy's crew, in the island just before they made their way here. On that island, Luffy, Nami and Zoro had come looking for him because he was the son of Yassop, the sniper of the Red Hair Pirates, technically making him Luffy's cousin. After a rocky introduction Usopp and Luffy had really hit it off and Usopp even introduced him to his best friend, a woman named Kaya. Upon hearing that I'd crushed the lemon in my hand with an excessive amount of force causing it to explode. Usopp gave me a startled look but I just went on pretending nothing had happened.

'Tch. This guy has a girlfriend too?'

Deciding to drop the sudden display of aggression, 'Wise choice', Usopp then told the tale of Klahadore, an ex-pirate captain turned butler with the alias Kuro. The story was one that put me on edge. A sick, cowardly, pathetic bastard running away from the pirate's life and plotting to take the life of an innocent girl he'd cared for, for years just so he could live the easy life? I should pay that bastard a visit myself.

I'd voiced my desire to do so to Usopp but the marksman said Klahadore had vanished after the battle with Luffy. Neither Luffy or Zoro had said what became of Klahadore, only that he would never trouble anyone again. The marksman confessed that he believed Klahadore was most likely dead, "If Luffy had no qualms executing Krieg like that I don't think he'd done any differently with Klahadore…or well maybe he did worse."

I raised my eyebrow in question, gesturing for the archer to explain what he meant by that. "Ah well you see, there's this thing called Haki…" Usopp then gave me a brief crash course on Haki and basically with the use of Observation Haki he'd been able to hear what Luffy had muttered to himself right before he blew Krieg's head off.

"'All right,you're not even worth torturing.' is what Luffy said…he probably made Klahadore's last moments in this world very unpleasant."

"That's a mild way of putting it." I eyed the concoction in my hands with a glare. It wouldn't taste good, that wasn't the point of it. It was a homemade remedy meant to give someone a butt load of essential vitamins and minerals, flavor wasn't an important factor for it. 'It isn't horrible…but it certainly isn't pleasant…' I sighed briefly before my eyes landed on a certain beverage on the far corner of the room. '...Well, it does dull the pain.'

"Yeah, Luffy can be brutal." Usopp confirmed with a pained laugh as he touched his sides. "Just wait till you join training…Actually never mind. I saw you kick away that miniature warship like it was a soccer ball, you'll probably thrive."

I wanted to question him about that but Usopp immediately jumped into profiling Luffy, Nami and Nutjob. Luffy was a wolf, in every sense of the word. Fiercely loyal to his family and friends and had absolutely no mercy for his enemies. Nami was greed incarnate apparently, though I get the feeling it may be exaggerated slightly because of the incident earlier with her 'betrayal.' Nutjob was a battle junkie but kind of like the older brother of the group, keeping an eye on him, Usopp that is, and Nami while also doing his best to reign in Luffy from his random nonsensical impulsive urges. Apparently at one point in their journey Luffy had wanted to start an all out paint war against a whole village because the place was too quiet…What kind of idiot did I just make my captain?

"Hahahahaha, yeah Luffy can give you whiplash for days with how inconsistent he can be." Usopp was incredibly amused at the moment since in hindsight it was kind of funny, but in the moment it was just 'What the fuck?!' "Sometimes he's cool, calm and calculating, the next? He's a grade A Monke Brain!"

"What have you been making anyway?" Usopp inquired as he eyed the beverage in my hands curiously.

"A drink for the nut job." I responded coolly before I made my way out the kitchen with the concoction and a plate of food, smirking hearing Usopp's response.

"Which one?!" he asked mirthfully. Heh, guess it could have been referring to Luffy or one of the bounty hunters. Walking by the deck I saw Luffy and Nami blinking with confusion at the two crumpled bounty hunters who sported bumps and bruises all around their faces.

"They were eavesdropping on your private moment so I kicked their asses a bit." Luffy smirked with mirthful eyes while Nami smiled darkly before pulling out a collapsible staff with blunt circular ends that promised one hell of a concussion. "Usopp set the take out on the dining table already. I'll join you guys for lunch after I get Zoro his lunch and this remedy for pain relief."

While I turned away, not bothering to wait for Luffy's reaction, there was no point in waiting for Nami's since the beautiful maiden was more occupied with beating the living crap out of Johnny and Yosaku, I knew my Captain was sporting an approving grin.

Back inside the men's barracks, I walked over to Zoro's hammock, eyeing the only blade to have survived the duel with Mihawk…being clutched like a teddy bear. '...Yeah I am not touching that subject.'

"What do you want, cook?" Zoro grumbled out, cracking one eye open to look at me. The guy wasn't all there yet but he was somehow rested enough to wake up and strike a conversation. "What the heck is that?"

"Something that'll help you recover a little better." I answered coolly, handing him the home remedy. "It won't speed up the process, I'm a cook not a miracle worker, but it will give you all the essential nutrients you'll need and some relief from the pain."

The swordsman just stared at me blankly for a moment before he shifted on his bed so he was sitting up and then he took the meal and the drink. "...Thanks."

"Don't mention it, we're crewmates now and I'm the cook. It's in the job description to keep the crew full and healthy…even if it is a nutjob."

Zoro glared at me but while others cowered under that glare I just responded in kind. There were intimidating humans that look like monsters and then there were real monsters. Zoro was just human.

"Why'd you duel Mihawk? You knew you wouldn't win."

"The best teacher is experience." My uncovered eye twitched at the response. This fucker really was the definition of battle junkie. "It was also a measure."

"A measure?"

"On how much farther I have yet to go."

I scoffed at that. "I could tell you that much without you having to get your ass beaten, moss head."

"You tryin to start something, dartbrow?!" Zoro's patience was running thin. Good. He'll be easy to rile up for stress relief.

The smirk that came to my face as well as the relaxation of my tense body gave the shitty swordsman pause before he gave me a 'You gotta be kidding me' face.

"Luffy put you up to this? To distract me from moody feelings and stuff like that?"

"Not exactly. He gave me permission to start fights with you and to treat them as extended training." Zoro was silent for a moment before he eyed me up…then he grinned.

"Heh, try to keep up, ero-cook."

"Please, I'll be running circles around you, shitty marimo."

"If you two are done?" Zoro and I both turned to the entrance of the men's barracks to see Luffy leaning against the door frame with an amused smile. "You can get back to your sibling rivalry later, I need to have a word with Zoro."

The swordsman beside me stiffened upon being called out and moved to get off the hammock but Luffy was suddenly right next to us. 'What the?!' I backed away slightly from the two before darting my eyes back to the entrance where Nami was now standing in front of, gesturing for me to come with her. I gave Luffy and Zoro another glance, the two seeming to have a silent exchange, before I walked out the room.

"It's called Shave, by the way." Nami said as we walked towards the kitchen, Johnny and Yosaku passed out on the deck black and blue. "Luffy's seemingly instantaneous movement from one place to another. It's one of the six powers that all marines of the upper ranks are trained in."

"If it's training for marines how does Luffy know it?" I inquired curiously as I opened the door for her, which she responded to with a smile.

"Luffy's the grandson of Monkey D. Garp, the Hero of the Marines. Luffy's 17 right now and he began training for the six powers 7 years do the math."

Ah, so Luffy's grandfather, Vice Admiral Garp, taught him how to use the six powers 7 years ago. The six powers which were apparently only taught to higher ranked Marine officers were taught to a 10 year old…Wait…A 10 YEAR OLD?!

Nami laughed seeing the realization and dawning horror on my face while Usopp just stared at us in confusion, a rather large, highly detailed blueprint in his hand. The object depicted in the blueprint was reminiscent of a crossbow…

LUFFY'S POV

While Nami was relieving her stress by beating Johnny and Yosaku to a pulp and Sanji went to deliver Zoro his lunch, I walked to the kitchen to give Usopp the package. The package actually had some weight to it but it was also too big to just be a stack of blueprints and letters.

'You sure about that? This is Yassop, for all you know it could actually be just letters.'

'…You're right, who am I kidding. This is motherfucking Yassop we're talkin about. It would be weirder if it wasn't just a stack of letters and maybe one or two blueprints.'

"Hey Luffy! What'cha got over there?" Usopp asked as he took a seat on the dining table, waiting for the rest of us before digging in.

"This is a package from your father. Mihawk was asked to deliver it to you along with…well my father's gift to me." I gestured to the new blade I had at my side before placing the package on the table in front of him. "Mihawk mentioned some blueprints your father included in there for weapon or tool inspirations. Most of em's probably letters though."

"Luffy…I-" Jeez, the guy was tearing up as he held the package like it was the first plate of food he'd had in weeks. I get it, you love your dad but…the level of these waterworks man. I chuckled and ruffled his hair a bit before I turned to walk away, leaving the marksman to feebly complain about being treated like a kid.

Outside Nami was still beating the two snoopers up. I paused a bit as Johnny shot me a pleading look, begging for a rescue. It was tempting honestly, Nami had made them black and blue with bumps sprouting all over. Then I took a peek at my lovely fiance who looked as bloodthirsty and terrifying as she was beautiful…and left the two to their fate.

'Coward'

'You want to get in the middle of that?'

That shut the hypocritical bastard up. Mythical magical damn near all-powerful wolf or not, unhappy wife, unhappy life. Opening the door to the men's barracks I was left smiling as I watched a recreation of one of the most familiar sights back on Dawn Island. Dye Zoro's hair black then you've basically got Sabo and Ace bickering as they always do.

'You know, now that I think about it…Aren't these two eerily similar to your brothers? Not completely of course but…still lots of things are uncannily similar…'

The wolf was right. Sanji was Sabo, the smart blonde with an air of responsibility and maturity to him…long as women weren't involved anyway and Zoro…

'Holy shit. Zoro's just a calmer, more toned down Ace!'

Battle Junkie? Check. Violence is the answer? Check. Almost entirely instinct driven? Check. Angry at the world? Ok maybe not. Narcolepsy?

'Zoro did mention sleep being his default pass time if he wasn't training'

Shaking my head I decided to put an end to their bickering. If Ace and Sabo were any indicator, these two numbskulls would be at this until dinner.

"If you two are done?" Getting their attention off each other and on me I continued. "You can get back to your sibling rivalry later, I need to have a word with Zoro."

Zoro stiffened momentarily before moving to get off the hammock. I wasn't about to let him do that in his state so I shaved over to his side and pushed him back down, ignoring Sanji's shock. My swordsman eyed me up, gauging my body posture if he was in any trouble, similarly I gauged him up but for the purpose of surveying the damage.

Neither one of us spoke until Sanji walked out the room and joined Nami on the way to the kitchen. "You're not in trouble, Zoro." I got the ball rolling by assuring my first mate of that fact. Thankfully, Zoro immediately relaxed and leaned against his hammock again, shifting his plate to his lap but not eating yet. "I wanted to talk to you about this."

Unsheathing my blade, I watched as Zoro's eyes widened upon seeing it. There wasn't any recognition in his eyes though, just disbelief. "What the? Wh-Where did you find a blade like-"

"My father requested Mihawk to deliver this to me. This is why he came looking for me in the East Blue in the first place, aside from grabbing a bite to eat in the Baratie anyway." I swallowed anxiously before proceeding on with the specifics about this blade. "This blade is —-, and was the blade of —-."

This was the first of many shocks Zoro received that night. Many more followed as I shared with him my family's history as well as the blade's. Throughout it all Zoro was quiet, nodding along from time to time to show he understood or was still paying attention. By the end of it, Zoro was deep in thought, his eyes closed.

"...So you want me to be your mentor? In swordsmanship?" Zoro finally inquired, still not opening his eyes.

"Yes. I want no one else." I answered back without hesitation. Zoro's head snapped up and his eyes opened in shock and confusion.

"Why?" Zoro asked incredulously "Don't get me wrong Luffy, I'm honored but…You saw my battle with Mihawk." I glanced downward at Zoro's hands tightening into shaking fists. "I'm nowhere near the peak. I'm not even on Mihawk's level, how much more that blade's previous owner! I can't teach you. I'd drag you down, I'm not the world's greatest swordsman! I-"

"Not to me." Zoro paused his self-deprecating tirade to see my cold glare as I loomed over him. "You're not the world's greatest swordsman, but you are the greatest swordsman to me." He looked like he was lost for words. Good. I didn't need him to talk, I needed him to listen. "You stood up and dueled Mihawk already knowing you wouldn't win but you did it anyway. You wanted to learn and you took the path with the most benefits and consequences without hesitation because you know experience is the best teacher. You know what you want to achieve and now you've gotten an idea of how to achieve it. But that isn't what made you the greatest swordsman in my eyes." Zoro's face was an impassive mask that gave no insight into his thoughts or emotions at the moment, but his eyes burned with the desire to know why I saw him so. "When it came down to it you didn't back away from your beliefs, your ideals. You didn't turn and run like so many others would or already have done, you faced him and accepted defeat honorably…Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame, right?"

"Luffy…"

"Eat up and rest as much as you can, cause when you're able again?" I turned back to face Zoro who I'd begun walking away from. "We'll train each other till our hearts give out, my world's Greatest Swordsman."

'...Drama queen.'

Oh for-

'Yes it was kind of overdramatic but sticking around and blankly staring at each other after a speech like that would just make me look stupid and negatively affect the impact ok?!'

'Still a drama queen.'

Son of a-

'Why the hell have you been talking a lot more anyway?! Aren't you supposed to be the reclusive, mysterious beast within and not a play by play sarcastic narcissistic commentator?!'

'Drrrrrrrrrramaaaa Queeeen~.'

The mental back and forth continued to rage on even when I took my seat at the head of the table and began eating lunch with my crew, minus the bounty hunter duo, after a toast to our newest addition, Sanji The Cook. No one realized I was having a mental argument…aside from Nami of course. She took one glance at me before she sighed and kicked me in the foot with a glare telling both of us to stop. We wanted to argue back but…Yeah no, we're not fighting that.

'Unhappy wife, unhappy life.'

If you're curious on how Wolf talks or what to imagine for him then picture Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2.