Chapter 5: To Compete for a Meal

"Rolfe, what do ya think ya be doing boy!"

The voice was loud and heavy. It felt as though the whole world would crumble beneath its weight. All the eyes of Luffy's crew turned on the man who was quickly barreling down on them.

In a fit he violently shoved Nami to the side sneering angrily he reached down to grab the boy by the scruff of his neck.

"Ya supposed to be performing fa the crew!"

"You lousy..." Sanji's leg sliced through the air going straight into the man's face. "How dare you touch a woman in such a way?" Sanji was practically seething. "Nami-san, are you all right!"

"This isn't the time. You pea-brained cook."

"What did you say you pea-haired moron?"

Zorro looked out on the sea of angry patrons that filled the pub. Many were rising from their seats. The hands of the pirates were already reaching for their pistols and their knives.

"Wait! I'm sorry!" Rolfe bolted in front of them and knelt down before the man lying on the ground. "Captain, are you all right?"

"Captain?"

The beefy man slapped the boy hard across the face and he went sprawling into Usopp.

"Rolfe, are you okay?"

Nina went running to his side. She didn't even notice the bulky pirate raising his hand to slap her. All she heard was a strange sound she had never heard before. It kind of sounded like metal being pulled from something...

It didn't matter Rolfe was hurt!

"I'm fine."

Nina ignored his ardent protests and helped him to his feet.

"Your hand!"

Chopper tottered around the fallen Usopp and got a good look at the young man's right hand. It was badly hurt.

"Don't even think about it." Zorro growled.

Nina turned around to face him. Tears were welling up in her eyes... How could he do something like this? To a musician his hands were his life. She couldn't forgive him for this. There was no way she could ever forgive him for this!

"Captain, I'm sorry I was late, it's just..."

Captain... Rolfe called this evil man his Captain? Why?

Zorro's sword was against the man's throat. "I don't care what you do to your own men but don't you touch one of ours."

Ours? Nina had only sailed with them for a few days but she had already come to call these people her friends. Perhaps, that's what they meant. She didn't mind though after all they were really good friends.

"M...e...a...t...!!! Zorro why is your sword out? Nina we got food! Play a song! Play a song!"

"Is something wrong?" Robin said carefully here eyes studying the man Zorro still held he blade against.

"He... he..." Nina was crying. "He hurt my friend!"

"Nina, calm down."

"How can I calm down Rolfe? Your hand... it's... it's broken. Our hands are a musician's lives!"

"Musician?"

"Wait isn't that...?"

"They are they guys from the wanted posters!"

"That's Zorro, Nicole Robin, and that's... Monkey D. Luffy"

The whole bar went silent. Many of the pirates were too scared to even move let alone protect their Captain.

"I told you it's fine!" Rolfe insisted. "I'm a member of his crew, and besides if I help him..."

"What do you mean Rolfe?"

"It... it doesn't matter."

"He hurt his partner?" Nobody had noticed how Luffy's normally carefree face had turned serious. "There's no reason to ever do that..."

Everyone on the crew except Nina knew that this was one of two things you never did in front of Luffy. He wasn't much of a Captain, but he was very protective of his friends. It was that quality that they all liked about him.

"Luffy! Just a minute!" Nami had to stop him from fighting and destroying the pub with it. The bill would just be way too much to deal with at the moment. "How about a deal?"

"Nami, how can you deal with someone like that?"

"I said I'm fine. I've got to do this!"

"But Rolfe..."

"Can't you see it's the only way to save...?"

"Save?"

Rolfe couldn't even meet her eyes. He just advanced towards his captain. "I'll perform. I'll perform however much you want just keep your end of the bargain!"

"Bargain?" Luffy scratched his head..."What bargain?"

"You can't your hand!"

"You're little friend is deer is right."

"I'm a reindeer!"

"Perhaps a trade my musician for yours. I wonder if she's any good?"

Luffy was really getting mad.

"Let's make it all or nothing." Nina inserted. She wasn't sure if this would work or not but if it did."

"Nina just stay out of this."

"Interesting."

Everyone knew this was bad. What exactly was she planning on doing? She was a musician not a fighter what was she planning on doing?

"How about this..." The captain sneered. "There is a contest in town. We have dozens of musicians in our fleet of ships. If you can out perform them in the contest you can have your broken little friend. If you loose, I'll make you pay."

Luffy was quietly advancing on the man. He was furious. He wasn't about to let anyone hurt Nina in anyway shape or form. She was the Merry Going's new musician.

"Trust Me," she whispered to her friend. "I can do this. Please, Mr. Luffy, let me. I accept!"

Everyone knew that their hands were officially tied. They could only believe in her.

Chapter 6