Chapter four: Food Thief

Hi everyone, it's been awhile. Hope I haven't kept you waiting too long. Anyway here's a small quick chapter so we can get to the best bits soon.

It had been awhile since the ship that Luffy had stowed away on had reached a strange underwater island. Of course Luffy ha been shocked to find that an island was under the sea and how it was there in the first place but he just decided that it was a mystery island surround by a large bubble. As soon as the ship had docked Luffy had swiftly sneaked away and further into the strange island.

Though I had been really difficult to hide from all the eyes that were floating about, he needed to be careful. As he explored the area he realized that something was weird about the inhabitants. From an alleyway, he peered at the passerby's only to notice that their skins were unusual bright colours, they even had fins and webbing that humans didn't normally had. Quirking his head, he then saw someone with no legs but instead a long colourful stripped fish tail. 'Oh they're mermaids!' his eyes widen at the realization, thinking back to how his brothers would read various stories to him about them. 'But why do some of them have legs?' Luffy pondered the question 'til he was getting a headache. After observing the mermaids he decided that he was getting bored of hiding in the shadows and wanted to eat something.

Though looking at his scaly body he noticed that he wasn't going to get anywhere with how he looked. Luffy didn't know but doubted that the humanoid fishes would like seeing a dragon, not to mention if he changed he'd be naked. Whining he made the decision to find some clothes. Scurrying off Luffy searched, weaving between the building until spotting the various clothes in front of of him.

Hanging by the side of the house was a line of washing. Luffy checked to see if anyone was nearby before dashing towards it, snatching various materials with his mouth, though careful so not to tear any. He rushes away unnoticed, back in the forest of coral.

Running a short distance, he halted and dropped the stolen items down. He made sure that no one close in the surrounding area. Satisfied he lets his body change from the dark dragon form to that of a small boy. His hair was still black as night though covered in dirt just like the rest of him and his skin was pale due to the softer skin of his not seeing light in over a year.

Luffy crawled up from his knees, then patting the lose dirt off. Afterwards he approached the small pile of clothes. Reaching out he plucked one up, observing it before discarding it as it was too small thus continuing to rummaged through the pile. Something caught his eye, a string like clothing afterward he strapped it on just like how he'd seen many mermaids wear it. Straight away Luffy disliked it, it was tight around his ribs like a snake was constricting his body.

'Why do they wear these?!' Luffy snapped the tight clothing off and threw it far away, panting as found it easier to breath once again. A few minutes later he'd chosen a white T-shirt with image of a red star fish with the word 'Crimin' on it, though it was a little too big hanging just above the knees. Secondly a pair of blue shorts, lucky he was able to fit. Luffy rubbed his hand down the clothing, it felt really weird wearing them after all he hadn't covered himself in ages. Now it just felt unnatural.

Just then a beastly rumble voiced itself, Luffy clenched his belly with a groan. "I'm hungry~" drool dripping out of his mouth at the thought of food. He was starving like he hadn't eaten in week, even though a guard had thrown him large chunk of meat, but that wasn't enough. 'Yosh, time to find some food,' stating his next objective, he then sniffed the air like a vacuum. 'That way! Food!' He called, dashing off towards the delicious smell.

It wasn't long after that Luffy was carelessly running back into the town, this way and that, until halting in front of a small food bar. Taking in the warm, tasty scent Luffy grinned and hopped into the building and towards the counter. Luffy tiptoed and smiled at the barkeep.

"What'd want kid?" The Fishman turned, looking at the head of black hair curiously.

Luffy looked up to the tall, green scaled man before speaking. Only no sound came out, Luffy was shocked to say the least, dropping his head and eyes wide as trembling fingers touched his lips. He can't talk! The thought was scary, though he should have expected this after so long of being isolated, unable to speak to anyone. Determined to get some meat Luffy came up with a small idea.

"Oi kid, you hear me? I asked what you want?" Approaching the small figure, still only being able to see the black mess of hair 'til it moved.

Luffy had lifted his head, looking at the other straight on as he repeatedly pointed to his open mouth. It was minute that he stopped the action, watching full blown eyes stare down on him, displaying something akin to fear. Luffy didn't like those eyes at all.

"Yo… You're a… There's a human child here!" The barkeeper yelled, everyone quickly turned, their eyes spotting the boy.

Luffy panicked as he saw the costumers moving away from him, some with nervous eyes others filled with hate. 'They don't know who I am right?!"

"What's a human child doing here?"

"Maybe it's one of the pirates' kids"

"Get it out of here!"

"Someone call the Neptune Soldiers!"

Luffy swiftly made his escape as soon as he heard the mention of soldiers. He ran as far as he could, using the alley ways so no one would see him, and kept on going until he no longer heard the yells.

He was starving, already he has sneaked around snatching pieces of food without anyone seeing. The problem was that it was only shellfish or some fruit, he needed meat! Colapsing onto the ground Luffy whined as his tummy gave out a painful growl.

Then it seemed as if fate was on his side as a juicy taste wafted by and it was close. Following his nose once more he came to the edge of the alley and was faced with a bustling crowd. Observing the crowd Luffy quickly targeted a bag that was giving of the tempting smell. He would've bolted right then and there for the food, but there where a couple of problems. One being that his food was being carried by someone and that person was walking off with his meat! Carefully Luffy followed the bag. Peering over a corner he spotted the source of the tasty meat. He drooled so much that it was making his very own sea at his feet. Standing there was a two tall figures, by their stenches Luffy could say that the large blue figure was a Fishman and the other being human. But Luffy was more focused on the later one, that was holding his delicious meat. He was very strange looking in Luffy's opinion as he eyed the all white clothing and his hair was the weirdest he'd ever seen shaped at the front and sticking out it was round and puffy. 'It looks like cotton candy'.

Suddenly his thoughts of whether the hair would be tasty was interrupted as a uniformed form vastly approached, calling out to the two men.

"Boss Jimbei!" The two men looked to the running solider.

"What is it?" Jimbei asked.

"We need your help. There seems to be a commotion at one of the bars."

"Commotion? Is anyone hurt?"

"It doesn't seem so. But it seems important, they insist to call for the soldiers."

"Hm, very well I'll deal with the issue, which area is it?" The quickly inform them on the location before being ordered back." Jimbei turned back to Tatch before bowing his head slightly. "I'm afraid that I must leave."

"Don't want any help?"

"Of course not, It's most likely a small matter. Though I regret not being able to see Pops depart personally."

"Nah, don't worry about it, Pops will understand. It's good to know that everything is in safe hands while we are away. We look forward to seeing you again." Tatch grinned at the larger Fishman. "Take care, Jimbei."

"You too. Tell Pops I wish him well," Then Jimbei dashed off down the main street. Thatch smiled, watching his dear friend leave back into town.

"Well then… I better hurry or he's going to blow a fuse," Tatch said, speaking to no one but himself. Adjusting the new bags in his arms, he then turned and continued towards the docks.

The man hummed a cheery tune, walking through the streets of Fishman Island. … But some how he can't get rid of this feeling that someone's watching him. He pondered as to who it would be, he doubted it was a marine or a bounty hunter unless they were completely idiotic to attack him in pops' territory, can't be too careful. A thought struck him 'Maybe it one of my beloved fans!' He grinned, the image of beautiful mermaid trailing after him, hiding because she nervous to ask him out.

"Ah, my beauty no need to be shy!" He spun around, but was confused as to why the was no mermaid beauty behind him, no one was there. Except for the various Fishmen and mermaids staring at him curiously, some probably thinking he was crazy, before continuing with their own lives. Thatch felt his cheeks heat, embarrassed how he possibly looked. But that weird feeling was still there, observing the crowd once more he doesn't see anything or anyone notable.

He glanced at a nearby alley, peering at it suspiciously as if it was calling out to him, though it didn't look out of the ordinary. Maybe his fan was extremely shy?

"Don't hide from Thatchy~" He leapt in front of the alley way, and once again he faced disappointment, finding it empty. He pouted upset slightly that there was no shy fan following him, even his pompadour seemed to droop.

"Thatch what are you doing?" jumping from the sudden voice, he turned facing a familiar blonde figure.

"Marco, what you doing here?!"

"Looking for you. You were supposed to be at the Moby Dick twenty minutes ago." Marco crossed his arms demonstrating his annoyance. "Wasn't Jimbei with you?"

"Yeah he was, but he had to leave due to some business."

"Oh, and what are you doing down an alley?"

"I was looking for my fan" this caused Marco to roll his eyes, turning around and walking way, followed by the red head.

"Don't look at me like that. They're real! I swear someone was following me."

"And you thought it was a fan of yours of all things."

"Well of course, who else could be. I mean no beauty could resist this handsome face" Tatch said with a smug face. Marco sighed, rubbing away the on-coming headache.

"We don't have time for this, we need to get back soon."

"What's the rush?"

"Just got a call, a few newbies causing trouble on pops' turf in the New World, not really strong but Pops wants to sail out as soon as possible."

It took awhile to walk to the docks due to the large groups of people, the surrounding area was unusually busy however the brothers noted the amount of ships that were docked.

"Is it just me or is there more ships all of a sudden."

"You're not imagining it. Most likely something happened on Sabaody causing every ship to flee"

"eh, wonder what happened?"

"You go on ahead, I'll see if I can find anything out" Thatch nodded walking towards the edge of the docks, where he could see a gigantic ship that had a front shaped as a white whale's head. He watched the various crew members that he called brothers moving around the Moby Dick as he boarded and crossed the deck heading for the kitchen. Entering the room and places the heavy bags onto the table, as he inspected each bag. 'three bags of vegetables, one of mixed herbs, two of Fishman candies, three of seafood and two bags of meat' with everything checked Thatch began to store away the seafood first. Grabbing the three bags he carried them across the kitchen towards multiple steel doors. Opening one, he placed the food inside the cold fridge. 'Slam!' Thatch jolted up, facing the entrance but to his shock found no one standing there. 'Wind? Na there's no wind down here, must be imagining things' he thought as returned to the task at hand. However as his hand paused just as he was about to grab another bag, that same feeling of being watched had returned and now it was closer, what bothered him most was that it was in his own kitchen and he couldn't see who it was. Looking around Thatch found nothing out of place but that feeling continued to nag him. Then an idea came to him after all he's the prank master of this ship, it's got to be one of his brothers trying to get back at him for one of his many tricks. He smirked.

"Think you can pull a fast one on me, eh? Hate to tell you this but you're a hundred years too early if you think you can prank me. Now show yourself!" From the side he saw one of the chairs twitch. 'Got you' Thatch carefully approached one of the galley tables which said chair was at. Peering down with predatory eyes as he suddenly pounced down to the floor staring victoriously at the empty space under the table.

"What are you up to now, Thatch?" Marco was standing at the Galley entrance, spying his brother laying down on the floor. Looking between his older man and the empty space, before Thatch got up while mumbling that he wasn't doing anything.

Marco quirked an eyebrow at the terrible lie but left it, instead took a seat at one of the tables.

"So did you find out what the commotion was about?"

"Yeah, you wouldn't believe it. Turns out some rookie started a fight at the Human shop, the interesting bit being that they took out the Celestial Dragons that were visiting Sabaody." This piece of information left Thatch speechless while his jaw just hung there as if his brother had just told him that all the emperors were going to have a large tea party.

"What?!" He exclaimed. "Man, what were they thinking? Not that they didn't have it coming to them. But seriously that's insane to think some newbie had some guts to go against them."

"Either that or a complete idiot, I hope it's the first. Their bounty will no doubt increase and all the marines will be targeting them from now on. We'll certainly be hearing about more of the details in the newspaper."

"Hey, don't you think we should stick around longer then, with this amount of ships about?"

"Pops said it was alright. Jimbei can handle it and if he needs any help we'll send someone" Marco reassured the other, before watching Thatch walking back to the kitchen counter.

"What the Fuck?!" Thatch angrily yelled, glaring at the bags sitting on the counter. "When I find who it was they're going to pay!" Tatch threatened.

"What's wrong, Tatch?"

"What wrong, what wrong? My meat is gone, that's what's wrong! It was what I was going to cook tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Yes tonight! Do you know how hard it is to get meat at this island? Close to impossible, that's my problem. It's ALL gone!"

"How can it all be gone?!"

"Damn I bet it was the person that was hiding earlier, I knew someone was there. Why the hell are you smiling?"

"Just the thought that one of our brothers for once got by you is actually amusing. Anyhow I wouldn't stress over it too much, we've still got plenty in storage from shopping earlier," Marco explained.

"That's not the point," Thatch groaned, drooping his head.

"You're just upset that some was able to slip past you."

"It won't happen again"

Somewhere on the ship Luffy's just finished eating the tasty meat and was left nibbling on the bones.

AN: Ah Luffy, typical of him to follow the smell of food and ended up on the Moby Dick of all places, hopefully he won't cause too much trouble. Also as I have introduced the Whitebeards into the story, we won't be hearing from Ace and Sabo's side for awhile. Though reviewers have been asking whether Sabo is human or dragon, as for that all will be revealed soon, possibly with some flashbacks.

P.s. I want Luffy to create a a bit of mischief beside stealing food, I would like to hear any ideas from you guys.