-Dominoes-

A One Piece fanfic by Digitaldreamer

Chapter Seven: Drowning in Guilt and Memories

I make people want to maim and kill Kuro or watch Zoro do it. That makes me happy noodle.

And this fic also made a certain pitupaso draw GIFTART. This made me a VERY happy noodle. You all should go see it at this link, because it is Godly. Go see it and worship pitupaso for all her Godly skillz.

http/ putfile .com / pic.php?pic 1/712425861.jpg&s x11

Just take out the spaces.

I also drew a picture for the fic, though it's not nearly as good. Comments are greatly appreciated.

http/ www .deviantart. com / view / 27404235 /

So yeah…this is insane. The last chapter got more reviews than an average chapter of Tangled Web usually got. Either that means my writing is seriously improving or this fic just feeds off the fangirl love of character torture. Probably the latter, I doubt my writing actually has much to do with it.

Right…so then, I'm sorry this chapter took so long to write! I had a ski trip and then final exams, it was all very hectic…but it's finally done. I'm pretty nervous about the whole thing, particularly the first scene with Zoro and Sanji, so please tell me how that came out…

Oh, and let me make clear that some time has passed since the last chapter in the fic, so don't think this is set directly after the last chapter, it's been two days since Luffy was captured.

---

Two days.

The Straw Hat Pirate's had searched for Luffy for two days and had come from their search completely empty handed. They had searched every street, every alley, every home, everywhere.

Luffy was no where to be found.

The crew had finally chose to retire for the night, weary from searching; Zoro refused to sleep. He couldn't rest, not while Luffy was still out there somewhere. Surely there was something somewhere that he'd missed!

Everyone else had ended up having to practically drag the swordsman back to the ship, pointing out that he hadn't slept since Luffy had been captured and he probably wasn't going to find anything searching in the dark. Even after explaining this to the swordsman he seemed rather annoyed as he trailed behind everyone, face grim.

And so it was with heavy hearts that the Straw Hat crew finally retired for the night.

A cool late autumn wind blew across the docking area, the sails and flag of the Going Merry flapping in the breeze. There was the soft sound of the waves slapping against the hull, the sound of the old, worn boards of the beaten ship creaking like they always did, but other than that all was silent.

Then, quite suddenly, the trap door that lead to the men's quarters was gently pushed upward and onto the deck with a barely audible "clunk". Then, with a fluid sort of grace Zoro hopped out onto the deck, his boots hardly making a sound as he landed.

Glancing around, hand placed upon the hilts of his swords out of habit, the swordsman rose. He had never planned on actually resting, he had only come because everyone else's badgering had become annoying and his attempts to get away and kept searching without hurting anyone has proved to be rather useless.

He didn't need sleep. He had sworn not to rest until he found Luffy, and he was going to keep that promise.

It had been two days. Zoro's heart clenched at the thought of leaving the boy out there at Kuro's mercy any longer. He wasn't going to let those two days become three or any longer.

With these thoughts in mind and that heavy burning feeling at the thought of Luffy having already been somewhere out there for days burning in his chest, Zoro stepped towards the edge of the ship.

"Oi, Marimo. Nami-san said no more searching tonight."

The swordsman paused, teeth gritting. Damn, that cook's voice alone got on his nerves.

"Like I care. Shouldn't you be doing as your precious 'Nami-san' says and resting?" Zoro demanded without bothering to look back at the cook.

Sanji rocked back on his heels, leaning against the mast. The click of his lighter was heard as he lit a new cigarette, then blew out a plume of smoke. "Ah, but Nami-san told me to keep watch in case we were attacked. Or if you decided to go running off on your own and get lost."

Zoro snorted. "You think you could stop me?"

"Easily, shit swordsman. Not that I care or anything, but you haven't slept in days, you've barely eaten, you don't stop for so much as a breath. Chopper wants you to rest and everyone else agrees. That and if you go off and get yourself lost in the dark Nami-san will get a headache and such a beautiful woman doesn't deserve that."

The swordsman scowled. As if he was going to obey that woman's orders. "Your point?"

"Go back and rest. This is insane, even for you. Even if you're not gonna sleep, at least rest for awhile. You won't be any help to him if you're half dead by the time we finally do find him." Sanji said calmly.

"I won't be half dead. I don't need sleep. I swore I wouldn't rest, not until I find him, and I won't." Zoro declared, hands clenching into fists.

"That's stupid. You really think you're going to help him by running yourself ragged?" The cook demanded.

"It's not stupid. I'm not so weak that a little thing like this would make me incapable of helping him when I finally find him. I can't afford to waste any more time!" Zoro snapped, turning around to fix Sanji with a piercing glare. Somehow the cook's words were more jarring than usual; bringing all the tension that had built up over the past few days to the surface.

"Are you even listening to me? You aren't thinking clearly, this whole thing is messing you up. You're not helping Luffy by doing this to yourself! You go off by yourself and you'll get lost, and then we'll have two morons to find!" Sanji growled, shifting back and forth on his heels out of irritation now, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Who cares? As long as I find him, it doesn't matter." Zoro stated, fist clenching around Wadou's hilt as he spoke.

"Ugh, would you LISTEN? You're just going to make things worse by wandering off right now! God, I swear, you're so thick headed!" The cook snapped in frustration.

"I'm not being thick-headed, you're the one who can't seem to get the matter through to you that what you say isn't going to stop me, Pretty Boy!" The swordsman snarled in return.

"Is that so, Algae Head?" Sanji replied, visible sapphire eye flashing. "You wanna try and prove that?"

"My pleasure." Zoro growled.

"Fine. If you won't listen, maybe this'll knock some sense into that damn thick skull of yours!" With that, Sanji's right foot suddenly swung up, aiming for Zoro's face. The flat edge of Yubashiri met the sole of his shoe, stopping Sanji's heel from connecting with the swordsman's jaw.

"I don't need sense knocked into me, you're the one being stupid here. Good thing it won't take long for me to bash in that ugly face of yours!" Zoro growled, pulling his second katana from his sheath in a quick stab that would have gutted most. Sanji quickly dodged, aiming a second kick at Zoro's stomach, which the swordsman blocked and parried with a lightning fast strike.

"I'm being stupid? You're the one who isn't even stopping to think here! Unfortunately for you, brains may be required in this situation and you seem to be lacking in that department." Sanji snapped as he narrowly dodged Zoro's swing, once again counterattacking only to be blocked again.

It was always like this. He would push, the swordsman would push back. It was an endless battle, an endless blur of kicks and blades, hearts pounding in synch even as they fought. A battle where neither would give. Maybe one time he'd end it with a swift blow past the swordsman's defenses, maybe next time Zoro would send him slamming to the ground, panting for breath.

There was no real end to it. In the end there would never be a clear-cut winner, there would always be a next time. A constant challenge, an endless dance with only the occasional break in between.

But somehow this time was different. Zoro seemed more desperate this time, his movements seemed more wild, as if he were driving himself harder than usual. Losing his strength faster than usual, almost as if he wasn't entirely focused on his opponent, as if he were fighting an internal struggle as well.

Sanji quickly leaned back, feeling the wind of Zoro's strike blow past him, the silvery blade glinting in the light of the lanterns placed here and there on the ship. He snorted, spinning back on one heel and finally managing to land a solid kick the swordsman's jaw.

Zoro's head snapped back from the force of the blow, but he took no time to acknowledge the injury. He merely grunted, quickly side-stepping the cook's second blow before swinging his katana in a maneuver that would have sliced the blond's head in two had he not quickly jumped back. Though Sanji did dodge most of the blow the katana still managed to nick his cheek, the thin cut beginning to bleed freely as he landed several feet from the swordsman, pulse pounding in his ears.

Both men glared at each other for a moment, fierce determination flaring within their eyes, both breathing hard. Sweat was beginning to dampen their shirts, sliding down into drops to obscure their vision.

They both needed this desperately. A way out, a way to release the tension that had just been building and building with each event over the passing week. A way to release that stress without becoming weak, because neither could afford that weakness.

Zoro and Sanji understood each other in a way only people in their positions could.

So they fought. They exchanged blow after blow, sweat sliding over skin and shining in the dim light. The entire ship would shake with the force of it all, creating small waves in the bay as the scuffle went on. And as physical blows were exchanged, their verbal battle continued as well.

"What part of this aren't you getting? You won't find anything out there! You'll just be wasting your energy! You're being stupid!" Sanji snarled, quickly jumping over a blow that would have sliced off his legs.

"It's not stupid! You're the one wasting my time here! I could be looking for him right now!" Zoro snapped in return, quickly blocking a rib-shattering kick.

"But you wouldn't find anything! There's no light and we've already searched the island from one end to the other! Our best bet is to wait until tomorrow, when it's light out and there are more people to ask! You know that too, you're just too stubborn to admit that maybe stepping back for a few moments might be a good idea, too stubborn to let everyone else help!"

"That's not true! I can't afford to step back! He could be dying right now, we have to save him! He's our Captain, and he's probably suffering! I have to save him, he's my Captain!"

"Would you listen to yourself? You don't have to save him! He's not just your captain, he's our Captain! Not just yours, not your sole responsibility!"

"But it is! It's all my fault; I'm the one that failed him! I swore I would never lose again and now I have!" The swordsman's fists clenched even harder around the hilts of his katana as he sent a flurry of blows towards the cook.

"Idiot! You didn't fail! No one else could have stopped what happened from happening!" Sanji growled as he danced away from the shining blades.

"I could have! I should have! But I didn't! I failed! I can't let him down again! I can't waste any more time! I have to save him, I swore I would! Why can't you fucking understand that?" Zoro's voice took on a desperate note as he finally landed a blow to Sanji's shoulder, a thin slice appearing in the cook's suit.

The blond grunted, visible eye narrowing in rage. "YOU'RE the one who's not getting it! This isn't about whether you failed or not! This isn't about cleansing your honor or whatever! There's more to it than that, more involved than you and your promises! All you're doing is focusing on yourself and him and how you've failed! You don't even bother to step back and take other matters into account! You don't bother to think that maybe we care too, that maybe we can help! Hell, you won't even bother to consider how your love for him might be effecting this whole mess!"

Zoro's eyes widened and he nearly lost his grip on his swords. He faltered for an instant. "…Love? You think I love him?" He growled, spinning around to try and strike again.

Sanji's foot came up to block and the two remained that way for a bit, pushing against one another. "Yeah, you heard me, shithead. Love."

"I don't love him. I-" The swordsman paused, brow furrowing. What did he feel for the boy? He wasn't entirely sure. He was fiercely loyal to his captain...and he knew there was some sort of connection between them. He understood Luffy and Luffy understood him. He felt…comfortable around the boy, like he was able to relax a bit, something he hadn't felt in ages. There was something there, that much was certain.

It couldn't be love. Roronoa Zoro did not have time for love. It wasn't something he needed, it wasn't something he wanted. Nakama? Sure, whatever. But he didn't have time for love. He had his goal…he didn't need anything else. He didn't want anything else, he could care less about anything else.

But if that was true, then why were things so different around the boy?

"Keh…I don't love him. He's just my captain…and that's only because that's how things ended up being. He's my captain, nothing more." Zoro growled.

"Is that so? Then why do you keep staring at him? Why do you let him so close? Why do you get so touchy when I even mention it?" Sanji said pointedly as he strained against the flats of Zoro's katana.

"I don't have time for that kind of thing!" The swordsman snarled. "I have my goal! I don't need anything else! This is just...it's not…it's impossible!" With that he pulled back and swung at Sanji.

"Would you listen to yourself? You're pathetic!" The cook quickly hopped over the blades, using the katana as leverage to jump over the swordsman's head and flip over him. "Shithead…this is why I can't stand you! You're so used to acting like such a damn hardass all the time that you can't admit to being able to feel anything!" He slammed a kick into Zoro's back, sending the swordsman flying forward.

"That's why you're being even more thick-headed than usual! You're looking for an excuse to not have to think about anything else, so you use that guilt and your promises as an excuse to constantly push onward! You use that so you have an excuse to not think about dropping that damn mask of yours!" The blond spun around, slamming his foot into the swordsman's side before easily dodging the katana that was swung at him.

"In fact, your tiny brain's so cluttered with all this mess and everything's so shook up that you can't think properly, because you can't focus on anything else! You can't even focus on fighting me! Idiot!" He sent a kick to the swordsman's stomach, which Zoro only managed to knock off course so the heel of Sanji's shoe connected with his side instead.

"Try sitting back for a moment and accepting that maybe, just maybe, you're capable of having some kind of feeling! Until you come to terms with that, you won't be able to focus properly and if you can't do that you won't be able to save him! Come to terms with that and your damn guilt! It isn't all your fault and it's not all up to you to save him! We're here to help too! So just accept that help for once in your life, step back for a moment, and THINK!" As he spoke Sanji began attacking relentlessly, sending a flurry of blows that Zoro couldn't seem to block.

Finally Sanji ended this verbal and physical assault with a powerful kick to the jaw, sending Zoro sprawling to the ground on his back, swords clattering to the deck. Sanji rocked back onto two feet again, breathing hard. "Think about what he means to you. Once you find that...things will sort themselves out. You can do that…we are his crew, after all, like it or not we're stuck here together. Until you can work out what that means for you and him, things are only gonna get worse."

Zoro just lay there, staring up the stars, completely silent.

The cook pulled a new cigarette from his pocket and lit it before walking over to the swordsman's beaten form and speaking again.

"Come on. If you don't plan on sleeping, I'll make some coffee."

---

Cold.

That was the first thing Luffy noticed when he came to once again. It was cold, but not the still, stifling chill of the cold room. This cold came in the form of a cold wind blowing past him, ruffling his hair, the chill hitting the skin of his bare chest and making him shiver.

But he still could not see anything. Something dark had been pulled over his eyes, preventing him from seeing wherever he was. Probably some sort of blindfold…

His wrists remained bound, though now they were bound in front of him as opposed to holding him up. For this, Luffy was thankful, though the rough ropes still chafed his raw and bleeding wrists. But his ankles were bound as well….weird, why were his ankles bound? He tried to move his legs into a more comfortable position, but he didn't seem to have the energy to do so…oh well.

Though he could not see or touch anything, Luffy had his other senses to rely on. The sound of waves crashing against something filled his ears, and his nose strung as the strong scent of saltwater filled his nostrils.

The sea? What on earth were they doing there?

"Ah…I see our friend is awake. Take the blindfold off, Yumi."

Luffy winced as thin fingers tugged on his hair, catching bits as the blindfold was untied and the black cloth was removed from his eyes. He found himself staring down at his own reflection, whom was staring back at him with glazed, blood-shot eyes from the surface of the dark sea. The boy blinked in confusion, glancing up from his reflection and looking around.

He was kneeling at the very edge of a long, hard wooden dock. Spread out before him was the vast, infinite dark sea. It seemed to stretch on and on until it finally met the dark horizon, where it spread out into the dark midnight sky. There was no moon tonight, making the whole area seem rather eerie.

A beam of light suddenly flashed over the water and Luffy blinked, craning his neck to view the course behind him. There stood the lighthouse, and behind that were various docks and somewhere far in the distance there were several warehouses.

There were no people. It was just him, all alone with the vast sea that didn't seem so inviting in the dark.

Unless you counted Kuro as a person.

Kuro stood there behind him, his hands behind his back as he gazed down at the boy, the lenses of his glasses reflecting in the light from the warehouse.

"I assumed perhaps a change of scenery would make things more interesting." He drawled.

Luffy's eyes narrowed, though he found himself shivering once again from the cold.

"My dear doctor informs me that keeping up with my preferred methods of punishment would kill you off a bit too fast for my liking. Such a thing really is quite a shame, seeing how we were making such progress before you became unconscious." The man's eyes swept over his handiwork upon the boy's back.

While beforehand the wings had been the only markings upon the pirate's back, this wasn't the case anymore. Angry red welts criss-crossed the boy's entire back, the flesh having been flayed back here and there. Dried blood still remained caked here and there over what pale skin was left.

It wasn't exactly a pretty sight.

"Also…he informs me your fever is growing dangerously high. I decided perhaps we would try to cool you off a bit…"

Luffy frowned. What could Kuro mean by that?

Kuro's smirk widened. "I've been told that Devil Fruit brats don't like the ocean. It probably wasn't a good idea to become a pirate in that case, but you chose to do so…not very wise. But now that you've lost your powers, perhaps swimming would be a more ideal activity for you."

Luffy's eyes widened. Swim? Even without his powers, he had never learned to swim. He had tried and tried, but he never seemed to get the hang of it. Then he'd eaten the Gomu Gomu fruit, and with his powers had gone any chances of learning to swim.

He discovered the problem with that early on.

"Yumi, take his wrists." Kuro ordered calmly.

The tall silver-haired woman, whom had remained silent and still until then, bent down with liquid-like grace and pulled the boy up by the rope around his wrists. Tied to this rope was another length, which trailed to the ground. Yumi picked this up in her other hand, saying nothing.

As he was lifted up Luffy felt a weight tugging at his ankles and he glanced down…and it was then that he noted the other length of rope tied around what appeared to be a very heavy ball of concrete.

They were going to drown him. There was no way in hell he'd even be able to attempt to swim.

Kuro leaned in close to the boy, his cold eyes meeting Luffy's wide ones.

"Now then. We needn't go through with this. There is but one thing that you need to do, and that is to plead to me for mercy. Give me your submission and we can end this quickly."

Luffy's face twisted into one of defiance. "No."

Kuro's eyes narrowed. "Yumi." He said calmly.

Yumi extended her arm, holding Luffy so he was dangling above the water. The boy glanced down at the water churning below him and he felt his throat tighten. He glanced back at Kuro, whom was giving him a twisted sort of smile.

"You made your choice to be defiant." He reminded. With that, he used his foot to push the concrete ball over the edge of the dock. Yumi then released Luffy.

Time seemed to slow for a moment as the heavy ball fell past him, and then he felt the weight from it dragging him towards those dark depths, making his stomach drop as he fell. He glanced down at the water, which drew closer and closer, and for the first time in years Luffy was honestly afraid.

In the ten years that he'd possessed a devil fruit power he'd never feared the ocean. He loved it. It carried the Going Merry and her precious cargo to their adventures, softly rocking them as it pulled them along. He loved the ocean for that reason, even as every time he fell in it would try to take him back, to claim him within those shimmering blue depths.

He had always loved the sea.

This sea was different. It wasn't sunny and warm and sparkling blue like it usually was, this time it was dark and black, churning as if it wanted to swallow him whole.

There was no one here to dive after him and save him. There would only be his captor's mercy.

With a horrifying splash, Luffy was submerged within the icy waters of the sea.

First came the shock of the cold. It was impossibly cold in that water, like thousands of knives stabbing at his body. It was a cold that seized his breath, stopped his heart. Luffy instantly stiffened in agony as the salty water burned, filling his nose and ears. It was like being encased in frigid ice, the waters icy fingers squeezing the warmth from him.

Then came the panic. Luffy could not swim. Ace had tried to teach him, but he had never learned. Even if he could have swum, any strength he had in his limbs seemed to have been swept away the moment he touched the water. All he could do was allow the heavy weight of the concrete to drag him deeper and deeper into the water until the rope around his wrists pulled tight. The weight continued to tug at his legs, trying to drag the boy all the way down to the bottom of the cold, dark sea. The only thing keeping Luffy from that sandy bottom was a taut piece of rope that tied him to his captor and his only hope.

Then came the end of Luffy's air. He found himself releasing a bit of air and he forced his lips shut as he watched the bubbles float to the surface. He could not breathe, pure and simple; and without that air he would die. Luffy's lungs began to burn as he fought against the impulse to breath, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. He tugged desperately at the weight on his legs, but it did little but tire himself out more and make it harder to keep holding his breath.

All he could do was hope desperately that his captor would pull him up and allow him to breath.

Then it was over. The misery had only lasted half a minute, but to Luffy it seemed like an eternity. He felt the rope tighten around his wrist as he began to slowly be drawn upwards. Slowly, foot by foot, he was pulled towards the surface, the weight of the concrete still tugging downwards even as he was dragged towards the surface.

Finally Luffy's head breached the surface and the boy gasped for air. He inhaled deeply as water dripped from his hair, sliding down his face as he was dragged upwards once again until he was pulled halfway onto the dock. His legs were left dangling as he lay there with his weight on his chest, coughing and sputtering.

"Well then…do you suppose once was enough, or do we need to repeat this lesson?" Kuro inquired, gazing down at the sputtering boy.

Luffy coughed again, spitting up water onto the dock as he glared up at Kuro. "No." He managed to spit out.

"So be it then."

Once again Yumi released the rope and Luffy tumbled down into the waters below. His lungs were on fire and the weight pulled down mercilessly, like strong hands tugging him down to his death.

He didn't want to die here! He couldn't die here! He was going to become pirate king; he had sworn it to Shanks all those years ago!

Luffy thrashed against his bonds, screamed into the dark water. He wasn't going to die here! He wouldn't! But he hated this…this helplessness. It was different from the times he had fallen into the ocean before…his nakama had been there before. As much as he hated being completely helpless as he sunk into the oceans depths, he hadn't really been afraid because his nakama had been there.

Being within the water always dredged up his first memories of the devil fruit's curse. Of coppery blood mixing with the salty scent of the sea.

Luffy hated being helpless. That was why he had trained so hard after Shanks left.

No one else was going to lose an arm because of him.

But training hard to not be helpless wouldn't help the fact that Luffy was a hammer and had always been one. He'd learned to accept it…only because he trusted his nakama to catch him when he ended up helpless within the ocean's grasp.

His nakama weren't here now. No Zoro to dive after him, no Sanji to pull him up and curse his lack of common sense, no Usopp, no Nami, no anyone.

Finally, after what seemed like ages, Luffy was dragged to the surface once more. He wheezed for breath as he was dragged onto the dock again, too weak to struggle anymore.

Kuro squatted down near him, caressing the boys cheek with his fingers as he spoke again. "Do you not understand? Your crewmates aren't here to dive in and save you. I am the one who allows you to breath. If I give the word, you will stay down there and drown. If I give the word, you will die. I am the one in control here, and you are completely at my mercy. Submit, and this can end quicker."

Luffy's face twisted and he coughed up a bit more water before speaking. "N-no…" No? No to what? Luffy wasn't even entirely sure what he was saying no to! Whether it was a plea to end this or an act of defiance, he wasn't entirely sure anymore. He didn't have the strength to think coherently…

Apparently it had come out as more of some of defiance than a plea, as Kuro's face darkened and he rose. "Fool. Very well then, drown in your own despair."

With that, Luffy was sent down again. His soaking wet jeans seemed to be taking on just as much weight as the concrete at this point. He lacked the strength to struggle; he could barely keep his mouth shut and keep the breath that he was holding in. All he could do was float there and try to stay conscious, because if he lost consciousness he would surely die.

His lungs burned and his thoughts grew fuzzy and he drifted within the darkness, listening to the water rush in his ears. Was this what it felt like to die?

Luffy could vaguely remember when he'd asked Makino how his parents had died, as Ace wouldn't tell him…Makino had given a simple reply.

"They drowned. You were too young to remember."

Was this what his parents had felt like? Had they been able to at least move? Had it been stormy, or was it calm like this night?

As everything began to fade, Luffy's eyes began to drift closed, bubbles slowly trailing from his mouth.

Was this dying? Probably. But that was okay….maybe he could ask his parents if they really did drown…

Then suddenly he was once again being pulled upward, up towards the surface once more. He was heaved up out of the water and thrown upon the dock, where he landed with a wet THUD!

The boy lay there, coughing and sputtering as his lungs fought to take in air. Water dribbling onto the wooden dock, his soaking wet hair sticking to his forehead as he lay upon the dock. Just breath…breath…

"Sir? Shall I?"

"No. He's hardly even conscious at the moment. There's no point in carrying this out if he's not awake to understand what's going on."

"Then shall we take him back?"

"Not yet….bring me the Video Den Den Mushi, we have a message to send."

---

"I hope you're happy. You guys and your fighting kept me up all night last night! I could feel the ship rocking!"

"Ahh! I'm truly sorry, Nami-san! Please take this breakfast, lovingly prepared for you, as penance for ruining your beauty sleep!"

It was a tired and bedraggled Straw Hat crew that met in the galley the next morning. Sanji's suit was a bit messed up and his hair was frazzled, but he still busied himself with making breakfast. Usopp sat the table, head in his hands, as Chopper leaned sleepily on his shoulder. Robin sat across from them, sipping a cup of coffee as she took in the state of everyone else. Nami had bags under her eyes and she kept glaring at Zoro, whom was slumped against the wall staring into space.

The navigator sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's fine…don't worry about it. I don't think I would have slept much anyway."

"I couldn't sleep either." Usopp muttered. Chopper snored lightly, having fallen back asleep.

"Ugh…I swear, as soon as I find him I'm going to punch him for putting me through all this." Nami moaned, rubbing her face. "Alright then, let's decide who will search wher-"

She was cut off by loud "OI!" coming from outside on the deck.

Everyone froze, sharing a look of confusion.

"Hey, where is everyone? Hopefully not too early…

It was then that young man around the age of twenty-one peeked into the galley. His clothing consisted only of a pair of longish black shorts which were held up by two bright orange belts. He wore two necklaces, one a set of reddish orange beads while the other was some sort of odd tassel thing with a pendent shaped like a bulls skull, over his bare chest. Lazy, half-opened eyes peeked from beneath the rim of a bright orange hat, upon which there rested a pair of blue goggles with faces on the lenses. Longish, messy black hair fell just below his chin, freckles dotting his face.

Everyone stared blankly at him for a few moments.. Finally, after a few moments, Usopp found his voice. "ACE?" He exclaimed.

"What're you doing here?" Nami inquired, looking very confused.

"Eh, I stopped here and happened to see your guys ship, figured I'd drop by and say hi. Haven't seen you all since Alabasta!" The man explained with a lazy grin. "Nice to see you all! And the lady whom I haven't met yet." He added with a small bow of his head. "Pleased to meet you, miss."

"The pleasure is mine." Robin said with a small smile. "And who might you be?"

Ace blinked. "Oh, me? I'm Ace, Luffy's older brother. Where is he, anyway? I've been worried about him…"

The air became a bit tense at the mention of the captains name. Sanji immediately focused on his cooking, Usopp suddenly became fascinated with the ceiling fan, Nami bit her lip, and Zoro glanced back at the wall again.

Ace frowned, feeling the change in atmosphere. "What's wrong? Where's my little brother?"

After a few moments of silence Nami finally spoke up. "Ace…Luffy's gone."

---

To Be Continued…

Dun dun dun! I dunno if that should be considered a cliff-hanger or not…it seemed like a good place to leave off.

Right…so, you see that review button down there? Every time someone hits it and leaves a review, it starts a chain-reaction that ends with a little fist hitting a Kuro punching bag. Come on, you know you wanna punch the Kuro! Just leave a review!

Next Chapter: Ace has come for visit and Luffy's captured? How will the older D brother react to that? Will he be able to help find Luffy? What's Kuro going to use that video for? Find out next time!