Hey there! Sorry this is taking me so long! The bad news is that school started again. But the good news is that I passed all my classes last quarter! Yay! HA! SCREW YOU DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS! XD
Anyway, this quarter's workload seems lighter so far, but my schedule keeps me away from my computer pretty much all day, everyday, which sucks. Really sucks.
But whatever, on to story stuff. That thanksgiving story I talked about is still in the works. I made the conscious decision not to post that yet because I didn't like how it had turned out. I'm actually doing research for that one! Weird... But on to this chapter. This was originally going to be longer, but I really wanted to get something up. It's still pretty long though.
If I may sidetrack a bit, I'd like to throw a quick thank you to those who reviewed my fic Red Sky. I had no idea it would get such a great response! I plan to reply personally to every review once I find the time!
For the sake of consistency, I plan to respond to reviews within the story for the rest of this one. After that, I'll use the new reply system they've got. But until then...
To WhiteTigress666: I'd better be careful, or I'm gonna wind up killing someone! You're not the only person who's had trouble when combining food and one of my stories. XD Please don't choke! Maybe I should add a warning about eating and reading at the same time... I'm so glad you like the SanUso! Did I really convert you? No way! Well I'm glad you gave it a chance! You rock for being open minded! Ah yes, the dress part. I am SO glad I put that bit in. That got an awesome response! Thanks for the review!
To DigitalDreamer: XD Adding the dress scene was the best decision I've made in a while. Quite popular I must say. hehehe. I'm glad you like the rhyme! That stupid thing gave me so much trouble it was ridiculous! I seriously debated just getting rid of it but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm sorry to hear you're sick. I hope you feel better soon! But by the time you read this you probably will... XD Anyway, thanks for the review! Glad you like it so far!
To lost puppy love: You, my friend, are freaking amazing! Your fic "You Gotta Get It," was unbelievable! A master piece! You NEED to write more SanUso! SanUso needs all the support it can get and you are most definitely a good author to have on our side! (here I'm talking like it's some sort of war...). Anyway, you rock XD. But I must agree, Usopp is attractive in his own way! I'm glad you're enjoying it so far! Thanks for the review!
To dichana: You're way too freaking nice to me! Ifeel all warmeverytime I read your reviews, cause you are so wonderful! (hug) Thank you for your support! I'm so glad you liked the SanUso characterization! And a megasnerk! XD greatest word ever! Speaking of Fanart, if anyone is God on earth, it's you! Draw more damnit! XD You rock! You're so right about Usopp being exotic. I find him very attractive to be honest. (even though Zoro's still my fave. Oh, the muscles...) If I was a One Piece character, I would totally maul him! XD As I said earlier, I passed everything! My math teacher must have cut me so much slack... But it's over and that's all that matters! Good luck with your own classes! I'm so glad you like this so far. Thanks for the review!
To Griever5: Hehehe, yeah, their reaction was a little mean, but hey! They're all taken! XD Oh, but Zoro not dressing up as something works out well too! As you'll see this chapter. XD Thanks for the review!
To Anime-Dudette: XD I'm soooo glad you're liking this so far! It means a lot that you like the SanUso especially! Hehehe, I can only hope that I can continue to keep them IC as I go along! Anytime you see something that seems off, let me know! Thanks for the review!
To Macabre Love: I'm glad you liked the rhyme! That was really irritating to write... XD And I'm glad you like the characterization! Thanks for the review!
To The Plushie Bandit: XD I'm sorry, but for some reason I feel that Sanji makes the perfect vampire! You NEED to write that fic! It sounds so cool! That one and those other plotbunnies! Heck, just write more! I have to tell you that I have an idea for an FMA fic that keeps bugging the heck outta me. I want to write it so bad! But I already have so much to do with OP. Crap school for taking away all my time! Hehehe, I'm so glad you liked the costume scene! XD yeah, our reviews do tend to go off on tangents, but it's so much more fun that way! Thanks for the review!
To Quatrina Raberba: I'm so glad you're liking it so far! The dress thing turned out to be very popular. Hehehe. I'm sure Zoro enjoyed it just as much! XD Thanks for the review! I hope you like this chapter too!
To Chibimono Akuno: (shakes your hand) I am pleased beyond belief that you're willing to read the story regardless of you not being too fond of SanUso. Thank you for being so tolerant! There should be more people like you! Anyway, I'm glad you like the story so far! Thanks for the review!
Warnings: Yaoi/Shounen ai stuff. I dunno how to classify this... but it's ZoLu and SanUso, so yeah. A little language too.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. Man, that would be the best b-day present ever...
Well,I hope you enjoy this chapter! The title's really random, just plucked it from one of the early events of the chapter.
It's the Onions
Chapter 4: Fruitful Accusations
"I didn't even know we had that many candles," Sanji spoke idly, eyeing a particularly cheerful makeshift jack-o-lantern.
As soon as they'd returned with the supplies, Luffy had set to work organizing his little projects, and even with the outside of the ship covered from top to bottom, there were still dozens of faces left flickering within the galley.
The produce had been placed every foot or so upon the entire length of the ship's rail; hundreds of eyes now glowing in the rapidly fading light.
Fortunately for the rest of the crew, the navigator had had the foresight to lay down a strict rule that the produce was not to be left in the sleeping quarters.
Humming in distracted acknowledgement, the swordsman leaned backwards, jumping when he accidentally bumped something with his elbow.
Quirking an eyebrow over his shoulder, he turned just in time to see a potato plummet over the side of the Going Merry. 'Oops...'
Casting a wary glance around the deck, the first mate carefully inched two apples closer together, hoping that that would compensate for the one that he had... misplaced, and that his captain wouldn't notice.
'There. He'll never know...' Nodding in satisfaction, his gaze lifted to find two empty eyes boring into his own.
An onion. An onion was staring back at him. But it looked... angry! This vegetable was... accusing him!
'What the hell?' Zoro shook his head and blinked quickly, certain he was only seeing things. But when he directed his attention back at those gleaming orange hollows, the expression was still there.
A strong feeling of unease settled in the pit of his stomach, and the swordsman's eyes narrowed into a glare. 'Stupid plant,' he fumed, furious with himself for allowing himself to be affected in such a way by something that belonged on his dinner plate.
Growling under his breath, the green haired young man sized up his organic opponent.
He paused for a moment, challenging the produce's blame, before pitching it too overboard for good measure. 'Ha! So there,' he taunted silently, feeling strangely triumphant.
Unaware of his crewmate's ordeal, the chef was busily arranging the folds of his cape. "So, how do I look?" Sanji questioned, looking down at his vampire costume.
Startled that the cook would even ask him, Zoro looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "Like the bloodsucker that you really are," he offered, sneering at the cloaked form of the blonde.
Flashing the swordsman an answering glare, the chef bared his fangs. "Clever," he quipped sarcastically. "And what are you supposed to be? A dumbass?"
"Oh, now that was clever." Smirking, the green haired young man dropped one hand to indicate the blades at his hip. "I'm going as a swordsman." He chuckled, pleased that he hadn't had to do anything out of the norm to get ready for the night.
But to be honest, the first mate was pretty impressed that the other pirate could still speak coherently around the plastic teeth in his mouth.
"What a joke," muttered the cook, glancing down at the pier. "Remind me again... Why are we still here?"
Sighing, the green haired young man wished his fellow crewmate would just shut up. "Because Luffy decided that One Piece could wait one more day if it meant he got free food."
'Doesn't it figure that he asserts his authority when it really counts,' he thought sarcastically.
Nodding, the love cook propped a cigarette between his lips, cursing when he couldn't find his matches.
"Candy, here we come!"
Recognizing the marksman's voice, the older pirate's looked up to see the younger pair making their way out of the kitchen.
"It's about damn time!" Scolded the blonde, opting to smoke later in the evening when he might really need it. "What took you so long?"
Luffy grinned, stopping just outside the door and pointing at the sniper as he made his way down the stairs. "Usopp couldn't get his hair up."
The chef snorted, watching as the long nose made his way closer looking unusually hesitant. The boy stopped in front of him, face lowered with his eyes shifting timidly beneath his lashes.
"Um..." Struggling to speak, the liar began wringing his hands around the straw hat he held. "Could you maybe..."
Sanji felt the need to smirk, but somehow couldn't manage anything past a fond smile. "Need some help?" He offered, extending a hand towards the boy.
"Would you please?" Came his rushed, albeit relieved reply. Usopp pushed an elastic hair band that he'd borrowed from Nami into the older teen's open palm.
An embarrassed blush flared across his cheeks as the blonde's fingers closed around his own, remaining there for much longer than what he would have deemed necessary. But when he stole a glance at the man's face, the signs of him teasing, if there had been any, were well masked.
The chef twirled his index finger at the boy before him. "Turn around," he instructed, taking the boy by the shoulders once he had done so. "Right there."
Even though he'd been the one to request this awkward exchange, the marksman couldn't stop himself from jumping when those capable hands found their way into his hair again.
Luffy giggled to himself, amused at how red the sniper had turned. Reaching out to fix an apple that had gone crooked beside his elbow, the rubber-man found his gaze drawn to the tiny scar that sat beneath the fruit's left eye.
"Hey..." Lifting the object from where it sat, he grinned. "Hey, Usopp! Is this supposed to be me?" Jabbing a finger at the carving, he carefully returned it to its place as he waited for an answer.
"Huh?" The long-nose spoke stiffly, trying to focus on his comrade without disrupting the cook's work on his hair. "Oh, yeah." He laughed gently. "I made one of each of us."
Zoro quirked an eyebrow, but made no effort to question where his replication had been placed. It probably wasn't pretty.
Finally Sanji twisted his friend's mane into one reasonably tidy knot, finishing it off as he snapped the hair tie around it. Thrusting his hand, spread upward, over the sniper's right shoulder, he made a grasping motion with his fingers.
"Hat," he ordered.
Settling the requested item within the taller pirate's outstretched palm, Usopp waited for a moment before he felt it settled over his hair.
Grinning in satisfaction, he offered the cook a 'thank you' before scuttling off to a safe distance; not quite as tentative now as his excitement began to get the better of him.
"So," the blonde started, crossing his arms and pinning the liar's retreating back with an expectant smirk. "Where's mine?"
Putting one finger to his chin as he stopped a few yards away, the sniper frowned in thought.
"Let's see, mine's up near the bow, Luffy's is across from the door, Zoro's is at the bottom of the stairs, and yours should be..." He squinted, scanning the railing that ran the length of the ship's port side. "Right... there."
Pointing to another apple, fourth in from the staircase leading towards the stern, the sharpshooter watched as Sanji moved forward, lifting and cradling it between his fingers as he peered closely at the face.
Usopp began to fidget restlessly as the chef inspected his work. He'd put a lot of care into that one...
Taking in the features of the produce in his hand, the love cook couldn't help but snicker. At first glance it looked like what you would see on any standard jack-o-lantern: triangular eyes with a wide, toothy grin.
The difference was in the details. The older pirate marveled at the cigarette that was wedged in the corner of the apple's mouth. 'So that's where my last smoke went...'
But what really caught his attention was the delicately curled eyebrow that rested above the right eye.
The blonde laughed, turning to face the sharpshooter. "That's pretty good, Usopp," he praised, offering the sharpshooter a smile as he raised the fruit towards the rubber-man. "What do you think, Luffy?"
The captain's grin widened considerably as he began chuckling himself. "Looks just like you!" He called in return.
Nami, stepping from the doorway to the galley, came to a halt beside the infamous straw hat and began prodding curiously at a pear. "Where's mine, Usopp?"
Startled by the young woman's question, a slightly irritated expression settled over the long-nose's face. Spinning on his heel, he shot a pointed glare at the chef. "Sanji threw it against the wall."
Aghast, the blonde's jaw dropped. "I did what?" He quickly returned the apple he was holding to its origin before he wound up destroying it too. "That was Nami-san's?"
Chuckling upon hearing this new development, Zoro pushed himself upright as his captain came bounding down the stairwell. "It's starting to get dark, you know. We should probably get go-"
"I didn't mean to, Nami-swan!" Burst the love cook. Practically wailing, the blonde looked up at the redhead with wide, pleading eyes. "You know I wouldn't ruin anything that had been blessed with your stunning likeness!"
Pausing mid-rant, the young man seemed to remember something, and swiftly amended his statement. "That is unless the image was a complete mockery of your unparalleled beauty."
Usopp, who had only just been fretting over whether to be flattered or embarrassed by the cook's earlier compliment, now pinned the still rambling pirate with a heated scowl. "Hey!"
Recognizing the floodgate she had unknowingly opened, the navigator held up one hand. "It's alright, Sanji-kun. I understand," she offered sagely, as if the act was outstandingly generous on her part. "But I think Zoro's right. You guys should get going."
The blonde looked as if her words had lifted a spectacular weight from his shoulders. "Ah, but of course Nami-swan. Right you are!"
Turning swiftly, the chef began ushering everyone off the boat. Zoro left willingly enough, and the sniper all but threw himself overboard when he saw the chef coming his way; arms held wide.
But on the other hand, Luffy thought it'd be funny to plant his feet when the cook attempted to toss him off of his own ship.
After a brief struggle, Sanji finally settled for just heaving the boy straight over the side of the boat.
With one hand fisted in the back of the rubber-man's overalls and the other hooked in the fabric circling his waist, he hefted the kid off of the ground and rocked backwards, gaining the necessary momentum to clear the railing. "You asked for it, Luffy!"
Practically shrieking in a combination of amusement and panic, the teen flailed helplessly as he dangled from the chef's unforgiving grip. "Zoro! Somebody! Help!"
Chuckling, the navigator made her way down the steps, stopping at Sanji's shoulder. "Looks like you're on your own, Captain," she joked, leaning over the side of the ship to see the rest of the crew off.
Faltering as if something had just occurred to him, the love cook abruptly dropped the raven haired teen, swiveling around to address the redhead. "Wait... Aren't you coming with us, Nami-san?"
Smiling as she watched Luffy scramble to his feet and dash off to join his first mate upon the dock, she shook her head, propping her chin in her hand. "Sorry, I've got other plans."
'Other plans?' Wondered the young man, feeling slightly distraught. 'As in, plans that don't involve me?' Suddenly he didn't feel quite so enthusiastic about their outing.
"So... why do I have to go?"
Raising an eyebrow at him, Nami motioned towards the trio waiting below them on the pier. "Well, Luffy will inevitably have to be pried away from the food. Zoro is the only person I've seen who can do that without causing severe collateral damage. However, he has no sense of direction whatsoever."
"And that means..."
"That means that you have to make sure everyone makes it back to the ship." Pushing away from her resting place, she turned and started towards her room, intent on readying herself for her own busy night.
Lowering his eyes to the marksman, who had begun chatting energetically with the rubber-man, he pressed again. "What about Usopp?" He questioned, a faint smile spreading over his face as he watched the teen begin to gesture madly in his enthusiasm.
"Usopp," the navigator began, gaze fixing on the chef's subdued grin, "Would probably appreciate some moderately sane company."
'Moderately sane,' he mused absently. "Yeah..." Speaking through his distraction, the blonde was startled when the sharpshooter suddenly looked up, catching him mid-glance.
He could see the liar's eyes narrow into an uneasy glare, and in response, instead of offering his reflexive smirk, he countered the teen's scowl with an honest smile.
But to his disappointment, his expression had still been read as teasing, and only served to deepen the frown on the long-nose's blushing face.
'What was that for?' Once the sniper had given a funny little huff, turning pointedly away, the blonde sighed, forgetting entirely about the fangs he was sporting.
Nami, who was now leaning halfway out of the storage room door, graced the chef with a coy smile. "I'm counting on you, Sanji-kun!" She called, voice almost musical as she tilted her head toward the young man.
"Ah! Of course Nami-swan! I won't disappoint you!" He fawned, knocked back to his senses by her encouragement.
"I'll miss you every second we're away!" Positively gushing as he waved dramatically, he turned his back for the final time to join the three men on the dock.
Their trek to the festival grounds began comfortably enough.
Luffy and Usopp continued to chatter amongst themselves, their conversations ranging anywhere from what kind of candy was best, to how cool their costumes were.
Being relatively the same size, it had been easy for the two younger pirates to trade clothes, and to be honest, with the current lack of light, it was getting remarkably hard to tell who was who.
Multiple times the blonde had been completely elated that the liar was finally accepting his subtle advances, only to have the captain turn to smile blankly at him.
And after a rather hasty and awkward retreat, he would discover the swordsman pinning him with a scowl that was rapidly approaching homicidal.
The sniper had made several comments about sandals making his feet feel naked, and Luffy, fascinated by the concept of overalls and their easily removed straps, had found at least seventeen different uses for the sash that normally adorned the sniper's waist.
Zoro, who had been completely silent ever since they'd left the Going Merry, was beginning to get a sneaking suspicion that his biggest problem that night would be keeping his captain clothed.
'Not again,' he groaned internally, thoughts instantly returning to the costume store incident.
After the banter had gone stale, the cook, stealing yet another glance at the sharpshooter, and having located his matches, decided that now would be a good time to employ that cigarette he'd been saving.
The three crewmembers, now well into their journey, shared a silent agreement that the rubber-man would never cease to amaze them.
Somehow, the captain had managed to take what was originally expected to be maybe a fifteen minute walk, and through a series of completely unnecessary detours, turn it into a forty-five minute hike.
In between those side trips, the boy would entertain himself by playing with the chef's cloak, and had almost wound up lynching the older pirate several times by now.
Far beyond irritated, the blonde took one last drag on his fourth cigarette before he crushed it beneath his toe. Training his eyes skyward, he frowned at the clouds beginning to roll in.
He'd been about to let out his breath in an aggravated sigh, but was interrupted by a familiar tug on his cape. Whirling angrily around, he lunged forward, taking the persistent teen by the shoulders. "Luffy, I swear, if you do that one more time I'll-"
The straw hat tipped back, the boy lifting his face to meet the cook's glower...
...And it was Usopp staring back at him. Eyes wide and expression startled, the boy froze, his only movement was the cautious twitch of his fingers releasing the hem of the cape.
Faltering, Sanji stood face to face with the sniper, dumbstruck. "Usopp! I... um... I uh..."
Usopp would have been fine with the man just letting him go, but the cook's grasp on his arms never wavered. So there he remained, locked at the eyes with the still fumbling blonde. "Sanji?"
Astonished at how quickly his ability to speak intelligibly had fled, the older teen jumped at the sound of the sharpshooter's voice. He was right there... so close! And it didn't look like he was going to pull away...
The marksman swallowed hard, fighting down his panic. The man hadn't done anything yet, so as long as... 'Oh god, tell me he's not leaning closer...'
Gradually, the love cook eased up on his hold. He barely registered the red hue that blossomed across the smaller pirate's face, only that the distance between them was slowly, so slowly, closing. 'Is he really? Here I almost attack him and he's... he's going to...'
"Oi! Come on you guys! The fair's right up here!"
All but throwing themselves apart, both the blonde and the long-nose still couldn't take their eyes off one another, couldn't shake the feeling that if Luffy hadn't interrupted just then...
But the moment, heavy with possibilities both attractive and terrifying, had passed.
"Uso-opp," whined the captain, suddenly appearing beside them. Glancing between his two crewmembers he paused. They looked funny... "Come on! We're almost there!"
Shocked from his stupor as the rubber-man snagged him by the wrist and led him off, the sniper couldn't help but chance one more peek at the blonde, who was still rooted to his spot. "Um... yeah, let's go..."
And with that, easily inflicted with the raven haired boy's contagious anticipation, the younger two took off running for the playful music and tempting aromas of the festival.
When the older pair had finally caught up with them again, both smaller teen's had been struck silent with awe, taking in the milling crowds and the elaborate displays.
Luffy caught a whiff of something he concluded that he simply had to eat, and followed his nose off to the left. "I wanna go check out the food!"
"I'm gonna go check out the games," mumbled the marksman absently, wandering off in the opposite direction.
Attention swapping between the captain and the liar, the swordsman and the cook shared a glance, shrugged, and split up as well.
"Meet here in a couple of hours I guess," the blonde offered over his shoulder, quickening his pace to keep up with the sniper.
Humming in a positive response, Zoro turned and broke into a jog, lengthening his stride to draw even with his friend before the rubber-man vanished into the bustling throng of partygoers.
An hour later, the captain had finally decided to abandon the concession stands.
For the moment anyway.
They'd taken to wandering aimlessly through the surrounding area, seeing just what else this festival had to offer. And if this celebration had anything to offer, it was sweets.
Any candy that Luffy had received went straight from the hand presenting it to his mouth; only passing through his own fingers for the sake of manners and decency.
...Well, that and Zoro had threatened to sever any future confectionery offerings if it didn't.
His first mate had warned him that if he happened to ingest someone's arm, that would be the end of his sugar supply.
That thought alone had scared the boy enough to hold him to the swordsman's request.
"Ah!" Giving a satisfied sigh as he downed what had to be his eighth glass of apple cider, Luffy paused mid-stride long enough to toss the empty cup into a trash can. "Who would have guessed there was more to eat on Halloween besides candy?"
Cocking an eyebrow, Zoro shook his head in amusement. "Who knew?" He offered jokingly, smiling faintly as the boy fell into step beside him once again.
Strolling onward in a content silence, the pair soon found themselves in a far less populated area; a rolling landscape patterned by dimly lit houses.
The captain grinned seeing the pumpkins that occupied every doorstep, the candles behind each expression creating an unsteady, iridescent light.
Zoro glanced casually upward, barely able to make out the almost full moon, hidden by the gathering clouds. "Looks like it might rain," he mumbled absently.
Luffy followed his gaze, pouting the instant his eyes took in the heavily shrouded sky. "Aw," he moaned dejectedly. "It better not! There's still so much stuff to do!"
"To do," echoed the swordsman, lazily raking one hand through his short hair before adding, "Like what?"
"Lot's of stuff!" Spouted the younger pirate, throwing his arms wide in emphasis. "There are games, and rides..."
Smirking, the first mate noticed that talking about the festival seemed to lend more bounce to the boy's step. "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah!" Fists clenched before him in anticipation, a brilliant smile spread across the captain's face. "And there's music! And lots more food to eat! Like those candied apples! And..."
Preparing to launch into the list of treats he had yet to sample, the rubber-man found his focus momentarily redirected as a small group of boys happened past, headed in the opposite direction.
Raising an eyebrow at his friend's abrupt silence, the larger teen turned to see that his companion had paused several paces back. "Luffy?" Pivoting mid-stride, Zoro moved to the boy's side. "What are you-"
"It's a..." Eyes wide with awe, the captain fumbled over his words for a moment. "It's..." He lifted one hand to point at the children, who had also stopped and were now regarding them oddly.
Frowning, the green haired young man crossed his arms, waiting expectantly. "It's a..." he prompted, beginning to feel slightly concerned.
Suddenly coming back to senses, the smaller teen shook himself before thrusting his outstretched finger more forcefully at the boys. "It's a tiny Zoro!" He crowed in delight.
"Huh?" Now effectively lost, the taller pirate shifted forward to address the three kids. As he looked closer, sure enough, the smallest of the trio was dressed as a miniature version of himself. "You're joking," he murmured.
The children, who seemed no older than ten or eleven years old, looked ready to bolt when the raven haired young man instantly dashed over.
"Hey!" With his enthusiastic greeting, Luffy lowered himself until his was at eye level with the newcomers. "I like your costume!" Beaming, he noted that the boy had even colored his hair a vivid shade of green.
"Thanks!" Visibly relaxing, the little swordsman smiled in return. "Everyone else either didn't know who I was, or said it was stupid to dress up as someone so dangerous."
The rubber-man snorted. "Oh, come on! The dangerous guys are the cool ones!"
The younger three nodded energetically in agreement, expressions so serious that the real Roronoa Zoro had to fight back the urge to laugh out loud.
"Zoro's so cool," began a second boy, who had lifted his own mask from his face. "Three swords?" He offered excitedly. "He must be really, really strong! With huge muscles!"
"And brave!" Supplied the first.
"Yeah!" Piped the third, and final child, combing the scruffy hair of his monster outfit away from his face. "I bet he's huge! And really scary looking!"
'Scary, huh?' Stealing a glance at his first mate, who was standing, looking quite disoriented behind him, the captain grinned.
"So, you guys really like this Zoro person, huh?" With his smile widening significantly, Luffy pressed for an even more eager response.
There was a ecstatic, unanimous 'YEAH!' before all three kids began rifling off what they thought was so great about a man they'd never met.
As it happened, the closest they ever expected to come to meeting the infamous pirate hunter was a wanted poster they'd seen in town...
Laughing internally, the younger pirate listened as well as he could to the trio's explosive reply, not really hearing anything intelligible but nodding along never-the-less.
He could sense his crewmate becoming more and more edgy as the conversation progressed, and was about to bid the boys farewell when the scaled down image of his closest comrade peeked around him at the larger of the pair.
"What about that guy?" Questioned the smallest of the group, nodding toward the green haired teen. "Is he your friend?"
Confused for a moment, the raven haired teen blinked widely. "Huh?" He paused, wondering how anyone could doubt that Zoro was his friend. "Oh! Yeah!" Springing to his feet, he gestured quickly at his companion. "He's Zoro too!"
Nodding in approval, the pint-sized swordsman offered the older of the two a look of admiration. "Your costume's way better than mine. Even your swords look real. You must think the pirate hunter's really cool too!"
"Costume?" Luffy wondered, glancing between his first mate and the children. "He's not wearing a costume, he's the real Zo-"
'Oh no...' Lunging forward, the true Zoro clapped a hand over his captain's mouth, silently willing his friend to clam up. At the strange looks the three boys were now giving him, he laughed uneasily. "Eh heh..."
The rubber-boy froze as he found himself pinned against his companion's broad chest, and whatever thought it was he had wanted to voice flew from his mind, the words dying in his throat.
Giving an awkward cough, the older teen attempted to smooth over his friend's unintentional slip. The smaller boy didn't recognize that it was a bad idea to make his identity known.
"Yeah, these are real alright," he offered loudly, patting the blades at his hip. "Yup. That's just how much I idolize the great Roronoa Zoro." Forcing that ridiculous phrase out was almost painful.
'This must be what it feels like to be Usopp...' the larger teen mused, feeling outstandingly lame and fighting down a scowl as he felt Luffy giggle against his palm.
All three sets of the children's eyes grew with amazement when the oldest of the two unsheathed one blade just enough to expose several inches of steel..
The shortest boy, the one impersonating the green haired young man, struggled briefly with the makeshift weapons that were bound at his own side.
Pulling one sword loose, he looked down at it with clear discontent. "My mom wouldn't let me get anything like that. I had to make mine..."
A pout very much like the one that frequently found its way onto Luffy's face appeared on the child, and the larger pirate felt guilt swelling in the pit of his stomach.
The object the kid held was really no more than a stick, carved with as much skill and focus an eleven-year-old could manage.
Zoro's brow lifted as he studied the boy's work. "You mean those aren't real?" He exclaimed, hoping his tone sounded completely astonished.
The younger swordsman nodded slowly, his gaze puzzled. His tiny fists closed around the length of his weapon, holding it close to his chest as if ready to defend himself.
"Well," huffed the green haired pirate, still holding his captain in place. "You certainly fooled me!"
The kid seemed to mull this over for a moment before his face lit up, positively beaming with pride.
Smiling to himself as he watched his words have the desired effect, Zoro noticed the large bags the boys were carrying. "Well, you guys should probably get back to trick-or-treating," he prompted.
As the trio turned to leave, they waved animatedly, to which the larger teen responded with a parting 'have fun.'
Luffy mumbled something behind his friend's hand, most likely his own goodbye, and waved as well as he could with his arms trapped as they were.
When the boys had put a decent distance between them, the first mate finally released his companion. "Well," he began slowly, a thrown expression on his face. "That was... interesting..."
The instant he was free, Luffy burst into laughter. "You have fans, Zoro!" He cried in amusement, nudging his friend playfully.
"Yeah," the swordsman chuckled uncomfortably, obviously still quite baffled by what had just occurred.
The raven haired teen's obvious entertainment faltered for a moment, and he frowned as if in thought. "You know, Zoro," he began, expression unusually subdued before he straightened again.
Somehow managing to appear serious and teasing at the same time, the boy pinned his swordsman with an undeniably fond smile and proclaimed: "You were cute when you were little!"
Choking on his own breath, the older of the pair took a few moments to sputter in an rather intelligent manner while his companion doubled over in another fit of hysterics.
"Yeah, well... now that that's been established, we should get a move on." Turning stiffly away from his comrade to hide how red he had turned, he pushed himself into motion, his step deliberate as he strode off down the path.
Still wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, the rubber-man had to scramble to catch up with his comrade. "You know, I think me and those kids have something in common." Tone thoughtful, the smaller pirate fixed the strap of his overalls that had slipped off his shoulder.
Glancing sideways at Luffy as he absently tried to match their strides, the swordsman quirked an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What's that?"
"We both think you're really cool." The young captain kicked idly at a rock he found on the trail before he continued. "And really strong and brave."
Risking a peek at his friend, Zoro found the boy's expression entirely honest and genuine. Realizing that the boy had left him speechless quite often that day, he could only hum just to let the boy know he was still listening. "Ah..."
"But you know what?"
Tucking his hands into his pockets, the green haired young man smirked slightly as the boy fiddled with his wig. "What?"
"There are two differences between me and them."
"Like what?" The larger pirate wondered quietly, pace easing into a more comfortable gait now that he didn't feel as if he were running away from his fellow pirate.
Smiling widely now, the raven haired teen gave a funny little skip before speaking. "First, I don't think you're scary."
Chuckling in spite of himself, Zoro shook his head. "And second?"
With another laugh, Luffy sidestepped closer and gave him an affectionate shove with his shoulder. "And second, I don't need a Zoro costume cause I've got the real thing all to myself!"
Allowing himself a grin, the first mate nodded. "Yeah," he mumbled, scratching distractedly at the back of his neck. "Yeah, I guess you're right."
A heavy silence settled over the two, and the swordsman was suddenly struck with a very unsettling sense of being watched. He froze, posture tense as he noted that his captain's steps had also ceased.
The older pirate waited, listening uneasily for any sound that his companion might make. "...Luffy?" Venturing a quiet call, the young man was about to turn around when he was suddenly rooted to his spot by a bout of low, devious giggles. "Lu-"
There was a loud, jovial shout, something that sounded similar to a battle cry, that was instantly accompanied by a solid weight latching onto his back.
Tangling every available limb around his first mate, the raven haired boy grinned, clinging possessively to the young man he held trapped. Tightening his hold, he nestled his chin in the crook of his comrade's neck. "Mine."
Brow raising, the green haired teen felt the unwavering resolve behind the boy's claim through his words as much as he did through the forceful embrace.
An unfamiliar emotion pulsed through his mind for a fraction of a second before it fled just as swiftly.
Staggering several feet forward before he regained his balance, Zoro craned his head around so he could look his captain in the face. Finding the smaller pirate meeting him with a warm, adoring gaze, he couldn't stop himself from smiling in return.
Working one arm free, the first mate reached up to give the teen's wig a fond tousle. "Yup. I'm all yours." Pausing for a moment, he saw the boy's grin widen so much that it livened his eyes. "Now come on. I can't walk like this."
There was another lengthy silence, as if the rubber-man were considering that little obstacle before in response, the arms and legs binding him simply tuggedhim even closer.
And there you go! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I'm really trying to finish this soon. Cause there are several other projects I want to get to. That includes Stealth. (sigh) Stupid school, sucking up all my time...
Anyway, thanks for reading! Please review!
Next time: They finally get to that haunted house! (seriously, they actually do this time!) Will the thrills and chills of Halloween night send Usopp fleeing into Sanji's arms? Or will it be the chef that he's running from? And will Luffy ever let go of Zoro?