One Piece: The Musician
Chapter 3: A Girl and Her Violin
"Roll up the sails and tie down the anchor, you guys," commanded Nami.
In time she realized she was essentially talking to herself. The entire crew had hopped off the ship and was already heading into town, lead by the two oldest crewmembers (membership-wise, not age-wise). Luffy's tongue was hanging out of his mouth.
"Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat…"Luffy was leaving a drool trail.
Apparently, just the thought of alcohol was enough to intoxicate Zoro.
"ONWARD TO THE GROG!!!!!" he screamed maniacally.
Robin shut her eyes. A sweet melody filled her ears.
"Shut up you guys," she demanded, "Do you hear that?"
More than likely only Nami and Chopper had heard what Robin was implying. The rest were a bit preoccupied…
"I hear beer!!!"
"I hear women!!!!"
"I hear pirates… Uh guys, maybe we shouldn't go!!!"
"Don't be a wimp, Usopp. I HEAR MEEEEEAT!!!!"
"Dumbass!!! How can you hear meat?!?"
"Buuuuut I caaaaan. The meat sings to me…"
Unable to contain his hunger, Luffy rocketed off to Rhea's only tavern/ restaurant.
Arina was halfway through her song when the front door swung open with a loud bang! She continued to play, but came under the impression that it was another set of ruffian pirates, with no class and no manners. However, the person who stepped in was a drooling, teenager who immediately ran into the kitchen. Everyone stared at him and back to Arina to see what her reaction would be.
Her face had turned sour. She mumbled an apology to everyone and slammed down her violin. As she entered the kitchen, Arina pulled out the sword that she carried with her constantly. Laying the tip of the blade upon the back of the boy's neck, she spoke menacingly.
"Who the hell are you?"
The boy turned around and Arina had to fight back a laugh. Under his straw hat, he had stuffed an entire beef rib cage into his mouth, bones and all. Nevertheless, Arina was adamant.
"Boy. Do you have money?"
A voice sounded from the back.
"He doesn't, but that's okay. We do."
Arina turned around and saw a ragtag pirate crew (assuming that they were). The one who had spoken was the redhead.
"And whom might I be speaking to?"
"The Straw-Hat Pirates' navigator, Nami."
"And who is this idiot?" Arina said, pointing at the boy, who was now rolling on the floor, choking on the bones.
"Er, that's Monkey D. Luffy. He's our captain."
Arina's eyes grew wide.
"The Monkey D. Luffy?!?!"
This would be an opportune moment to explain Rhea's communication to the rest of the world. It relatively had none. Aside from the pirates, Rhea knew nothing from the outside world. So, consequently there was no bounty news either. But for the last three years, all Arina had heard about was a pirate crew who remained undefeated and unscathed. She knew each of them and their names by heart. She just didn't know what they looked like. She knew now. It was just unbelievable to her that the boy rolling on the floor (now being assisted by a reindeer) was the captain of this infamous crew.
She looked at the rest of them. A green haired swordsman. Must be Roronoa Zoro. A black haired beauty. Nico Robin. A suave blonde. Sanji. A long-nosed teen. Usopp. The reindeer. Chopper.
"I'm quite familiar with your crew. I must say, it's an honor to have you at my tavern, but get your captain out of my kitchen."
Zoro and Usopp dragged the now unconscious Luffy out. Chopper followed.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I was in the middle of my violin pla…"
Sanji had slid onto his knees and had Arina's hands in his.
"God's golden light must be shining down on your angelic face!!!"
He proceeded to kiss her hands repeatedly. Nami and Robin were both very surprised to find that Arina seemed unfazed.
"Yeah, I get that a lot," Arina slurred.
"What is your name my angel?"
"Arina Blackbeard. Owner of this tavern."
Sanji was too mesmerized to notice, but both Robin and Nami straightened up.
"Arina Blackbeard??? The Blackbeard?!?!?"
Arina smiled.
"I beg your pardon, but I really must return to the stage."
She exited and even before Sanji could start whining, the beautiful sound commenced.
Zoro, Usopp, and Chopper were sitting at the bar (Luffy was sprawled over the ground) when, the girl in the kitchen came back out and began to play her violin. The sound was incredible. Zoro, who had never been particularly interested in music, listened intently. Usopp was plain shocked and Chopper began to feel strange. He had never felt it before, but it was awfully similar to the description Sanji gave to him about the first time he (Sanji) met Nami.
"It's a strange feeling in your stomach. I looked at her and suddenly it was like no one else was in the room. I honestly felt like I wanted to piss in my pant,." described Sanji. Chopper rolled his eyes at the time. He probably felt like that with all the girls he met.
Suddenly, Chopper stood up.
"I need to go to the bathroom," he mumbled.
Zoro twisted his face.
"Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine. I just really need to go…"
Chopper ran off and Zoro shrugged. As the violinist's song reached its climax, Zoro noticed that Luffy began to stir.
Luffy's vision was all blurry, having not quite adjusted to the light, but heard something. Something he had been waiting for three years. It was the music that made him feel the comfort of home. Luffy knew his crewmates were homesick. But they didn't know that he too missed home. Still motivated as ever to become the King of Pirates, but he still felt a twinge of despair whenever someone mentioned home.
This music, though, it had the grace of the sea, but the quaintness of his little town. It was perfect.
"Who is that?" Luffy inquired.
"I don't know," was Zoro's answer.
"She's Arina Blackbeard. Dunno if there is any relationship between her and the Blackbeard,"
Nami, Robin, and Sanji had returned. As well as Chopper. Luffy pulled himself up into a two-person chair next to the bar. Robin sat down next to Luffy and put her arm around him. She smiled gently, as if she knew what Luffy was thinking.
"She's good isn't she?" Robin whispered.
"And pretty!!!" piped Sanji.
Nami rolled her eyes.
"Are you jealous, my sweet Nami?"
"No."
"Ahhh… Blunt Nami is so cute!"
Zoro had not noticed any of this because he was keenly staring at Arina. Nami's eyes narrowed slyly.
"She's so pretty isn't she?" Nami whispered so delicately that Zoro merely responded with a faint grunt.
However, Zoro was not gazing nowhere near Arina's face. He was staring at her sword.
That girl's a swordsman. And a good one. I can feel it. I must duel her!
And that was when the music stopped.
No one clapped harder than Monkey D. Luffy.
End.