His eyes widened as he opened the door as his jaw dropped onto the ground; wide enough for a critter to crawl into. Zora sat there in the middle of the room while trying to keep a certain long nose girl away. It wasn't unusual for Zora to pick a fight with one of them, or Savi to take the fight to the green haired girl; but it was unusual when the swordsman was wearing a tank top that showed her bust.
"Y-You're a-" Niko's eyes widened at the sight.
The two barely heard Niko's rambling as they fought over a pair of scissors within Zora's hand. She held them high over her head as the long nose woman hopped up and down trying to reach them. "You're going to do it wrong!" Urika tried to justify her motives.
"A GIRL!"
Zora finally took notice of the newcomer and slowly turned her head to look at the male who stepped down the ladder. She tilted her head to the side and barely looked fuzed by Niko's statement. "Yeah?" she lifted one of her eyebrows. As soon as she was unguarded, Urika took the pair of scissors from Zora's hands. "Hey!" she growled.
"See!" Urika pointed to Zora's bust with a huge smile. She finally won the scissors "I'm not the only one seeing things! Zoro's a girl the whole time! And I thought I was crazy!" The dark skinned woman smiled and lifted her hand up as if she wanted a high-five from the orange haired man. Her smile dropped as she was left hanging. She straightened her back and looked at him. "Niko? Is something wrong?"
Locks of green hair fell onto the ground. A blade sheath back into its case. A smirk grew on Zora's face while Urika got onto the ground. "I TOLD YOU I WAS GOING TO CUT IT!" She screamed into the floorboards.
"Too late," she stepped onto the locks of hair. Her eyes made contact with the navigator. "Is he dead?" One side of her lips raised as she clapped her hands right in front of Niko's face.
The man growled. "Who told you to go and get a sex change! You idiot!" He raised his fist to punch Zora, who only dodged.
"It's that Dartboard who got the sex change, not me."
Niko froze once more and his arm fell to his side. "You're telling me...you have been a...wo..man the full time?" Zora nodded her head, while he tugged on his orange locks of hair, "And I didn't notice it?!"
Urika couldn't help herself. She raised her face from the ground and a giggle escaped her pink lips. It felt so great to her that she found out something before the others. Even though it was Johnny who confirmed her beliefs and didn't think she was crazy for seeing a pair of jugs on the swordsman's chest. But she still wanted to punch Zora for cutting off her green hair.
She didn't know why Zora didn't hide her puffballs anymore, and instead took the bandages off her chest and wore a simple white tank top. Once again, she didn't even know why Zora showed up at Arlong Park covered in bandages from head to toe in the first place; since the green hair only wore them over her breasts. All she knew, Zora was actually going to lay off the bandages...even though her wounds from the Baratie and Arlong Park weren't healed. "Zor-a...you still look like a boy."
"So? I like my hair like this. Out of my eyes."
The stubborn girl shrugged one of her shoulders and went past Niko. "If you are going to stand there all day, Ero-cook's going to start her period. Again." She didn't even glance before leaving the men's room and lifting herself up onto the deck. For some odd reason, the girl's men smelled like rotten eggs which caused Urika to stay in the men's room much to her dislike. She may have gotten a few pointers from Mihawk, but she hated the hair on her face. It got in the way whenever she fought, as well as her bust.
While she was young, she and Kuina were always judged because they were females. Even her teacher didn't think much of swordswomen, claiming they wouldn't get far into life. Zora didn't know much at the time, but she knew just because she was growing a pair of melons wasn't going to stop her from becoming the very best swordsman. She ended up covered with bandages after too many only used half of their strength, which she still beat them, whenever they fought her because she was a girl.
She hated being underestimated because of her lack of family jewels.
But, to become the greatest swordsman, she didn't want anything to halt her path. Even if it meant listening to the man she vowed to beat with her three swords. Isn't this what Mihawk meant by discovering her true self, as well as not hiding it and taking pride in it?
If he just wanted her to show off her boobs, he could have just gotten to the point, instead of glossing it over with such words.
"Oi! Zoro!" Her captain's voice broke her out of her thoughts. His head was in front of the kitchen's door, while the rest of his body was on the other side of the railing of the upper deck. Luffy's head was also upside down with his toothy grin showing.
"Luffy?" she questioned.
"What's a period?"
Her lip twitched as she stood in front of her captain; who just told himself to listen to them. She rolled her eyes and opened the door, "Go ask the Dartboard. She's on it right now."
"Oh yeah!" he slammed his fist into his other hand, "Dinner's done!"
"Why aren't you already in there?"
He looked around the deck with wide confused eyes; he was wondering that as well. In the end, he jumped down onto the deck with Zora. The girl walked through the door with Luffy following close by. Savi danced around the kitchen while humming a sweet melody, which sounded like piss to the green haired girl. She sat down at the end of the bench, with Luffy sitting across from her. The black haired turned his head as Savi made her way around the counter and sat the plate of a hot meal in front of the young lad.
This was their first night together on the ship. They sailed a day away from Arlong Park, while Johnny and Yosaku rode along. Whenever those two were, the three pirates didn't have a clue.
Soon the door crashed open with Urika dragging Niko inside. Her eyes were as wide as one could do without them popping out of her skull. "Niko! He won't move!" she shouted with worry threaded through her voice.
Savi threw Zora's plate at her, and went to Niko's side. "Niko-swan~ What's wrong?!" she worried about him as well.
Luffy's eyes followed the blonde as he munched on the food in front of him. Even if this was Savi's first night with the rest of the crew, she had a good idea of how much Luffy could eat; which was less than what he usually got from Sanji.
Savi took a hold of Niko's hand and felt the pulse. Which took a lot longer because the blond was too worried about the orange haired to hear it. "Niko-san is alive~!"
"Of course he is!" Urika uttered. "He hasn't moved since he saw Zora's boobs!"
"MOSSHEAD SHOW innocent~ Niko-san~ HER BOOBS?!" The blond chef switched from one mood to the next. She stood up and glared at the Mosshead.
She placed her cup of ale onto the table top and shouted back at the two morons. "THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED!"
"YOU STOLE Niko-san~ INNOCENCE BY SHOWING YOUR MOSSY BOOBS!"
"Mossy boobs?" Luffy tilted his head to the side. "I thought it was just your head covered in moss!" The black haired boy smiled with food in between his teeth; totally missing the whole point.
The long nose woman took her eyes off of Niko and shouted at the other two, "CAN'T YOU TWO NOT FIGHT?!"
"NO!" the two shouted in unison.
By now, Niko shook his head and watched as the three shouted at each other, with Luffy the only one remaining seated while laughing at the others. "SHUT IT!" he shouted at them, but only Savi took notice. "You do know Urika has the biggest bust," he pointed out, which didn't end as well as he hoped.
Urika blushed and crossed her arms over her chest area. While Zora seemed unfazed by the comment; she hid her jugs and couldn't care less. Savi shifted to one side and moaned, until she noticed Niko was moving once more.
"Niko-san~ better!" she cooed. She turned back to Zora, "NOT THANKS TO YOU, MARIMO!"
He shook his head in disappointment as he stood up. Within seconds, three bumps formed on each of their heads. Niko took his seat next to Zora's while the others followed; dizzy.
Zora took her seat next to the orange-haired man, and picked up her cup once more. She raised it to her lips and whispered, "Knave..."
"I heard that!" he slammed his fist down once more. Another bump formed on top of the last one.
Yosaku peeked inside of the door and sighed, "It's safe to come in now...right?"
Urika leaned her head to the right, "Yeah..." She picked up her fork and didn't even dare to look Niko in the eyes. It wasn't safe until all of the monsters left the room. Yosaku gave a breath of relief and opened the door so he and Johnny could walk inside. They took their seat on each side of the table. With Johnny sitting next to Urika, while Yosaku seated himself next to Niko.
Plates were placed in front of each of them, while Savi seated herself on Yosaku's other side. They all tore into their food making idle chat, while Zora's womanhood was the elephant in the room.
A hand reached over and took a few pieces off of Johnny's and Urika's plates. "Hey!" The two of them growled, but the evidence was already gone and the only one who saw, Zora, shrugged her shoulders as if she didn't witness anything.
"Luffy," Niko started. He was the only one who seemed to notice the elephant, or at least the only one who cared enough about it. "We are going to use the girl's room if you like it or not."
He nodded and chewed on Urika's food. When he could finally talk again, food splattered onto Zora's face. He gave a small grin as if to say sorry enough. "I will sleep in the girl's room then."
"Luffy-sama~" Savi smiled in delight.
"You. Can't. Do. That."
"Why not? I'm captain!"
"He's right, you know," Yosaku shrugged his shoulders.
With earned a growl from Niko. "There's the men's room, and the girl's room."
"Why does it have to be a girl's room?" Urika questioned out loud. She was just wondering and didn't really suspect an answer.
"Women's room," Niko corrected himself. "So, me and you, with these two, will sleep in there. Urika, Savi and Zora will get the other room."
"Eh? Zoro's sleeping in there?" Luffy tilted his head to the side. It was as if he forgot the whole reveal at the Baratie, but he just didn't care.
"Yes. She's a girl, just like Savi and Urika." Niko was at least suspecting some shock from his captain, but instead Luffy just smiled some more. Was Niko really the only one who didn't know? Not even Savi or the bounty hunter pairs seemed to react much. He rolled his eyes; he was really the last one to find out. Yet, this chat was the same one he had with the rubber boy when Urika joined. "Haven't we already been over this?"
"If Zoro's sleeping in there, so am I!" The strawhat captain declared.
"I'm sleeping in there too, Luffy-sama~" Savi made a slight side comment which went unnoticed by the two. Her shoulders slumped and she looked at her plate.
Everyone was almost done with their meal, but the argument between the two males kept them seated. Savi was torn between both sides, so she sat there looking at her plate in depression. While Urika was wondering where she would end up; because right now, the girl's room wasn't really the best place to sleep. Not after that little accident with eggs and Johnny's head. The two bounty hunters' eyes darted from one side of the table to the other; they were watching the debate with delight. Zora spun her glass and took another gulp of her ale.
"We don't have enough room in the boy's room for everyone."
"Then we can sleep in the girl's room!"
"Not enough room either."
"On deck."
"There's no way in hell I'm sleeping out there!"
"Why not?"
"What's the point of having rooms and not using them?"
"But it's funner to sleep together!"
It went from one side to the other before Niko finally gave up. Arguing with the strawhat was impossible. He felt like he was in an endless loop. "Fine. Sleep whenever you want."
Johnny and Yosaku looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. It was about time for this debate to end, since all of the glasses and plates were emptied. Savi stood up and picked up each plate. "Who's going to wash the dishes?" She was hoping for an answer from Urika and Zora, but it was Johnny and Yosaku who answered instead; since they were the guests. "You two Bello~ are so kind and generous~" Urika couldn't help but roll her eyes when Savi's hand clanked down on her shoulders. "But Urika will do them."
"We are not that good," Johnny tried to correct the girl while a blush appeared over his cheeks. "Savi-sis."
"I'm not doing nothing!" Urika talked back.
Savi's tone turned emotionless as she faced the long nose girl. "You will."
"I will too," Yosaku added. Savi's eyes sprung into hearts and sparkles at his acceptance, while Johnny lifted one of his eyebrows at his brother. Soon all of the chores were done as the moon lowered down over the side of the ship.
Luffy ended up sleeping on the deck, to his declaration, while everyone else stayed away from the girl's room and slept in the boy's room. Except Urika who was too prude and decided to sleep in the anchor room; which was off the two bedrooms.
...
Luffy picked up the paper that fell down from the sky and smiled. It was his bounty poster; but with a much smaller amount than the last one he had. "Oh yeah!" he remembered. This was his first bounty, not the one he received after Water Seven. "We're wanted again!"
"Again?" Savi repeated.
The orange haired stared at the paper and gulped, "A bounty?" Indeed, Luffy was holding up a paper with his toothy grin inked onto it. Smoke was in the background. But, two things were missing from Luffy's other bounty. He didn't have his scar under his eye, and under his name was
WANTED
DEAD OR ALIVE
RUBBERBONES
LUFFY
$30,000,000
Johnny and Yosaku smiled, "Look Zora-sis! Luffy-bro has a bounty!" They pulled their arms around each other and cheered for Luffy. While Zora was in the middle of napping on the other side of the ship; next to the figurehead.
Urika looked at the page and smiled. In the corner of the picture was her head, turned away from the camera. Her nose peeked out from the side, while her ponytail and bandana could be seen. "Look! Even my back is famous now!"
"What?!" Savi slid in front and searched for the poster. "They don't have my face but they have Longnose's?" Her eyes darted over the picture, but she kept landing Luffy's beautiful face. "Luffy-sama~!" she cooed. Then to Urika, "Where? I don't even see you."
Urika smirked as she pointed to the corner of the paper. "See!" Within moments Savi was sitting on the ground, facing away from Urika with her cheeks puffed out. She wanted to be in the picture with Luffy, not Urika.
"It's just your cap. Doesn't count."
"Jealous?" Urika humored herself. "Someday you could get one too and be famous like me, even if you aren't the captain."
"Really?" Her eyes widened with excitement. If she could have her face posted around the world, she could only imagine all of the guys who would come to see her~!
"Now we can head to the GRAND LINE!" Luffy smiled as he stretched out his arms. Savi's arm was already around Urika's shoulders as their feet kicked off the ground as they cheered together. Johnny and Yosaku joined their dance as they cheered along as if they were a part of the crew already.
"You guys..." Niko muttered as he raised his hand to his head. "Now everyone is going to be after us..."
Johnny halted in the middle of his dance and looked at the paper. "Wait...Rubberbones Luffy?"
Urika and Savi, the duo, fell onto the ground. "RUBBERBONES?!" The entire crew shouted in disbelief.
Luffy itched his head and raised his lip. For as far as he knew, it was his skin that stretched. "Shouldn't it be Rubberskins?"
"THAT SOUNDS WRONG!"
Other than that, the day went by uneventfully.
~May 31~
~Two numbers and a flower design inked into the paper disappeared into the night~
~A pair of blue eyes caught sight of it and quickly noted it down~
~As well as how the dust laid there on the ground~
~The others barely noticed while they worried over another matter~
~The other matter being a limp body that a huge man held up~
Yosaku's hand fell over the edge of the bed, in front of Zora's face. On the other hammock was Johnny, who snored as loud as the green haired herself. Urika rolled on her other side, facing the couch; which was outside of the two bedrooms, in their almost-living room. Luffy, much to his declaration, slept on the deck, while the others slept inside of the boy's room.
Much to Savi's dismay, she left the boy's room, away from the two Bello~ to go into the kitchen to cook their breakfast. She stood in front of Luffy and pulled his blanket up to his chin. "You look like an angel when you are sleeping, Luffy-sama~" she cooed with heart eyes.
A few minutes later, she returned with an apron over her chest. "Breakfast's done~" she grinned in delight as she patted her hands onto the apron, but Luffy did not stir from his sleep. "Hm?" she tilted her head to the side and shook his shoulders. "Luffy~ Luffy~! Luffy-sama~" she repeated his name over and over, but he never woke up. Savi went through the same phase as she did with Niko, while the others came running.
"What's wrong, Savi-sis?" Johnny questioned as he pulled out his sunglasses and placed them on top of his eyes. He looked down and he saw Luffy laying on the ground with his eyes closed; all earthly matters were shut off to him.
"He's not waking!" she worried over the small boy.
"Let's get Luffy-aniki on a bed," the other one of the pair suggested. All of them took one of Luffy's limbs, which was harder than it sounded because his body kept stretching back onto the ground. Soon they finally reached downstairs and laid him onto the couch, which was now opened once Urika shot up. "Did you offer him some meat?" she suggested. She was worried as well as the others, but meat seemed to solve the boy's problems, even if it was something huge.
Niko opened the door and looked at the two. His eyes were droopy as he leaned on the side of the door; ready to pass out any minute. He was not a morning person. "What did he do now?"
"Not waking," Johnny pointed to the closed eyed captain. His sunglasses were foggy as if he was starting to cry; like Luffy was going to die or something.
His eyebrows raised then lowered as he remembered something. "Again?" he moaned with his shoulders slumped.
Zora came yawning behind him. "Breakfast done?" She was totally oblivious to the situation, which earned her a few insults from Savi. Much like Niko's reaction, she just stood there with a straight face. "Again?"
"Savi," the long nose woman turned to look at the blond chef, "Did...Luffy fall down any cliffs whi-"
"NOT THAT AGAIN!" Niko and Zora shouted together as their hands went on top of Urika's head.
"Hey!" Urika grumbled. "You two say it again!"
The orange haired shook his head with his fingers touching his forehead. The other three were still looking at the first mate and navigator, waiting for answers on Luffy's condition. The sniper was still grumbling about her treatment to actually get any answers from. "When we were on Gecko Islands, this moron fell asleep when we were in serious trouble. It took him the whole day to wake up again."
"Luffy-sama~ going to live~!" Savi cheered with Yosaku as the two surrounded Luffy.
"So...is there going to be serious trouble or something?" Johnny raised his eyebrow.
"How am I supposed to answer that?!"
"I was just asking, Niko-bro!"
He closed his eyes to relax his nerves. Luffy always had to cause something to annoy him, even the mornings weren't safe. "We will arrive at the next island...midday." He lowered his head. He looked like he just woke up from a bad hangover.
"Niko-san, do you need some coffee?"
"Yeah, please and thanks."
...
Soon, Niko was fully awake as he sat on a lounge chair on the upper deck. Urika called from the birdnest. Her arms were swinging from one way to the other, "LAND HO! ISLAND AHEAD!" The navigator nodded as the girl slowly climbed down back onto the deck. Urika's lips opened as she stared at the island coming closer and closer. "So this is Loguetown."
"The beginning and the end. Where the last Pirate King was born and died."
"Rubber Bones Luffy or Pirate King Luffy..." Urika wondered out loud, "I like Rubberbones better."
Niko glanced at the woman, "Is that right, Brave Warrior of the Sea? Or Longnose?"
Urika quickly blushed and turned her head away from Niko. "Yeah?" she questioned as she crossed her arms. She didn't remember telling anyone about her dream of becoming a Brave Warrior of the Sea, like her father. Except this time, she wouldn't make the same mistakes and leave people behind. How Niko knew about it was beyond her. 'Do I sleep talk?' she thought to herself. Niko only smiled and a small chuckle escaped his lips as he looked at the long nose woman. "Still, I feel bad about him staying on the ship."
"What are we supposed to do? Drag his limp body around town? Remember how you said this was the place where Gold Roger was born and died. Well, this is also the last island till the Grand Line."
She shot up with widened eyes, "GRAND LINE?!"
Once again, Niko gave a chuckle, "How else is he supposed to find One Piece?" He also wanted to add about how Urika was cheering with the others to go to the Grand Line after Luffy got his bounty.
"No, no, no! There's only five of us! We can't get past all of those monsters!"
"Too late now. This is only the start of our adventure. Didn't you know what he was going to pull you into?"
"NO! YOU DIDN'T EITHER!"
He looked back onto the island, "Can I get back to what I was saying? Since this is the last island, it's the last place for supplies. But, this island is full of marines to stop rookie pirates from getting far. Smoker. He's a Marine Captain. Every pirate he sits his eyes on will get captured." He paused as he remembered the bounty, "And...then there's...Rubberbones Luffy."
Urika's shoulders slumped. "Yeah. You are right about him sleeping through this."
"He will get us caught."
The two nodded in agreement.
Soon, their ship was tied onto the docks as the others jumped down. Luffy stayed asleep on the ship, away from trouble, while the others were going shopping. "Thanks for the ride! We are really grateful!" Yosaku bowed his head up and down.
"Next time pay!" Niko replied.
Johnny snickered, "We may be bounty hunters but our pay isn't that much!"
Zora stretched her limbs, "That's why you gotta go after the big fry."
"Zoz!" the two cried on her shirt. Which was her regular white shirt while she wore her bandages. She could only fit into the shirt if she flatten her chest. So she ended up looking like a boy even after deciding to return her old identity, as a girl
"Can't you two leave without waterworks?"
"We are going to miss you!"
"Yeah. I probably won't."
"You are so mean!"
"Sure."
Which led to them following Zora instead of departing ways, while Niko started dragging her into a clothing store to look for some new outfits. Which led to Niko loaning some money to Zora, with a 300% interest.
Savi and Urika stood there at the docks. The blond wasn't really pleased with this, but she didn't have enough time to rant with Urika pulling her into the city. "I will go get Luffy-sama some meat~!" she decided. Still, she wished that one of the boys would drag/follow her instead of that Mosshead.
Urika just let her be and went off to her own path. She had a few things to pick up, plus she wanted to look around the city at their wares. This was the last place to upgrade her stock. As well, she wanted to redesign a certain object she got from her house. Not completely change it, but she wasn't an archer by no means.
Luffy slept within the ship while all of his friends were out through the city.
...
The orange haired man piled a bundle of clothes within her hands. She looked at him with 'are-you-for-real?' face. "I'm not going to wear these," she firmly stated.
Instead of listening, Niko dragged her into a changing room. "If you don't change, I'm sending them in there." Them was Johnny and Yosaku, who were still sobbing over their farewell to the crew. This was an empty threat seeing as how those two are now useless, unless you counted making waterworks. And he couldn't ask a favor from the shop owners because they were currently shaking in their boots at the sight of Roronoa 'Zoro'.
And it didn't help when Niko handed the green haired woman's clothes; yeah, they thought 'Zoro' was going crossdresser on them.
"Knave," Zora insulted as she took the first shirt, which she imminently dropped onto the ground. "I'M NOT WEARING THIS!
"Don't have much of a choice." The male tucked a wooden pole in between the handle and lock. "You aren't coming out until you get dressed."
"Poor Zoz..." Johnny mumbled under his breath.
Yosaku itched his head. This is probably the first time that they actually saw Zora wearing girl clothes instead of her regular training clothes. He really didn't have any clue what to think when it came to Zora, who acted like their older sister, well...brother, in dark times. So seeing Zora in something else seemed totally out of character for her.
But, she was still a girl. And not a bad looking one either.
Niko disagreed, "She's a girl, so she should look like a girl." He set his fist on his hip. His home-made bracelet rested against his jean shorts; a gift from his sister.
"Okama?"
"You really consider Zoro-Zora," he corrected himself, "As an okama?"
"Well...yeah, kinda." Johnny shrugged his shoulders.
"Must we really talk about this?"
The two looked at each other and back to Niko, "Yeah."
He raised his hand to his forehead and groaned. "Watch her. I'm getting some clothes as well." It was bad enough she was taking all of his time looking for clothes for her, so now it was his turn. Plus, now he could wear tank tops now that he didn't carry Arlong's tattoo, but instead a tattoo of a pinwheel with tangerines. As soon as he turned to a rack of clothes, Zora tried to open the door. "WHAT?!"
"Have you changed?" he casually questioned.
"Yes."
"Johnny." He stood up, walked over to the door and slid the piece of wood out of the handle. The door opened and Zora stood there pissed off at the orange haired. "Nice," Niko commented and went back to his clothes.
A pink blouse laid on the floor with red letters, spelling out: 'SEXY'.
The one she wore was a white shirt with long sleeves that showed her midriff. "I hate you," she muttered.
"You still got others to try on."
"Nope. I'm fine with this one."
Johnny lifted his glasses as his eyes widened at the sight before him. While Yosaku was drooling.
Niko rolled his eyes, "Fine. You can leave now." At least he got her to try something. Zora turned around, threw off the shirt and started to re-bandaged her chest to get back into her regular shirt. All of this while standing in the middle of the store. "ZORA!"
"Z-Zo-ro is a woman?!" the shop owners shouted. Shocked at their discovery. And the hunter duo weren't much better as blood dripped onto the floor.
"See ya," she stated as she turned and left the store.
Niko stomped his foot and looked at the throne shirt, and to the rack that he got it from. He didn't even look as he took a hold of all of the shirts, green, pink, white, blue and black, and threw them on the counter. He didn't give a damn if she liked them or not. He turned back, and stared at the blood path that led to the door. 'They were following Zora...' he thought and rolled his eyes. At least someone was watching out for her. From what Niko has spotted at Arlong Park, Zora had the same amount of directions as a lost toddler in the store.
Except she didn't admit it.
...
Savi took a puff of her cigar as she observed the food products. It was taking so much self-control that she had not to buy all of the products from male merchants. If she did, then she would overspend the money Niko-san gave her.
But it didn't stop her from flirting with them.
While she was doing that, a strange man with a rabbit hat, on top of a lion, strolled through the stands and stopped at a meat stand. The man ordered some grub for his pet; how kind of him~ He took off before Savi could test her luck. She stood in front of the meat stand and looked down at the giant fish. That would be more than enough to feed Luffy, for one meal. "I'll take that!" she smiled as she handed over the coin.
"Oh! Look at that! These eggs are really cheap!" Urika was bent low to the ground as she stared at a carton of eggs. Since she used all of the eggs to defend herself from Johnny, it was only right to replace them. Plus, she did want scrambled eggs.
"A house-wife much?" Savi wondered out loud.
"I can have my boy carry it for you," the shop owner suggested. "This fish is far too much for a lady like you to handle by yourself."
"You're so generous~" she cooed. Immediately, she turned around and tugged Urika by the collar. "But we can handle it. So Bello~ like you don't have to worry~!"
"Wait! Me?" Urika questioned as she was held into the air by Savi. "I didn't offer to do this!"
"Too bad," Savi uttered back.
"It's alright. My boy has nothin' better to do," the shop owner offered once again, but his request was denied as Savi and Urika carried the giant fish by themselves. They walked past the stands while the bags in Savi's hands jiggled on her wrist.
"Those goggles, new?" Savi questioned.
"Yes! I just bought them. And," she paused as she lowered them over her eyes, "I can see farther away, and it's safe from sunlight."
"Bandana as well?"
She nodded. Instead of her regular brown cap she wore over her curly hair, she was wearing a bandana tied around her forehead. It was a deep red with a few flower designs over it. She even got the pieces she needed to revamp her crossbow.
The chef nodded as she shifted the fish to her other shoulder. "Looks like you had a good time shopping." Unlike the Longnose, she only examined food products instead of getting new equipment, not that she needed any since she preferred kicking to weapons. Course, she could always get new heels. She shifted her hair back and a thought came to her, "Oh...did you want eggs?"
...
He walked across the stretch of land until he found what he was looking for; that certain ship with that certain symbol. Even though he didn't know the symbol when they first met, he only knew one person who would use that Jolly Roger. His hands turned on the handle-mane of his bike-lion.
He smirked as his lion stood in front of the ship. "Captain was right...he is here."
While his lion had other ideas. He took a big sniff and licked his lips. In a second, the lion jumped to try to get on the ship. His body hung down on the ship while his claws tore into the deck of the ship. "RICHIE!" the man with bunny ears for hair shouted.
The lion didn't glance his way.
So much for being a beast tamer.
Richie crawled his way onto the deck of the ship. Which prompts Mohji to go after his beast by jumping onto the ship. "Richie! Come on! Captain Buggy wants us to burn this as a backup plan!" The man groaned with his shoulders slumped, but Richie was too busy going around the deck. He came to a hatch and poked his nose at the latch. "Food? Down there?" Mohji questioned. He sighed and opened the door for the lion; it's not like any of the food would be good after getting burned.
As soon as he opened it, him and Richie regretted it imminently. They fell back onto the deck and held their noses. "RUTTEN UGGS!" His voice was pitched as he slide his way to the other side of the ship. His lion landed next to him, which lead to Mohji turned to him and glared. "Why would you go there?!"
The latch was still opened and the smell surrounded them. Mohji picked up a stranded board. Unless he wanted to smell like rotten eggs for the next time, he needed to close the hatch. He stood up, held his nose, and walked forward with Richie following closely behind. He came to the hatch and tried to close it, but only ended up knocking the wood board into the room. "Shoot..." he muttered. He went over the hatch and slammed it down.
He heard a snore.
His eyes widened and turned to Richie, "Someone's here!"
Which didn't help when the lion stepped back onto the other hatch, broke it, and fell down into the room below. "RICHIE!" he hopped into the room as well.
Snores.
He looked around. It wasn't a bedroom, like the first hatch, but instead an Archer Room. And in the middle of it was a blue couch with a certain pirate napping on top of it. "RUBBERBONES LUFFY!" Mohji shouted; which he covered his mouth seeing as how he didn't want to wake the pirate. He slide against the wall, ready for Luffy to stand up and throw him off the ship. Instead, Luffy stayed snoring. "Eh?" he glanced at the boy. Richie came to his side and started nudging his cheek. "Heh...he got scared and fainted!"
Richie rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Captain Buggy will be pleased with this!" He looked proudly at himself, until he thought of how he was supposed to get this boy to Buggy without waking him. "Uh..." He looked over to the lion for any help, but he only looked away. "Thanks for the help..." he muttered under his breath, but it did give him an idea. "Get over here," he ordered to his pet as he grabbed a nearby sack; which he was certain was used for flour. He lifted the blanket from Luffy's body and looked at the sleeping pirate.
His cheeks puffed as he inhaled. His skin was smooth, not even a scar on his face. "Rubberbones Luffy...what a strange name," he itched his head. "Would have thought they would call you Strawhat or Rubberskin..." He shook his head and bagged Luffy's head into the sack. He waited for the anger shouts, but none came. "He's a deep sleeper..."
The pink lion agreed.
Mohji took a hold of the boy and lifted him over the back of Richie.
...
The sword shot through the air. The two watchers gasped as the sword spun, while the other two watched with opened eyes. She held out her arm and never flinched as the sword went past her arm. She grinned when the sword laid on the ground. The shop owner and blue haired girl gasped. "I'll take it." She picked up the sword and returned it into its case as the shop owner fell onto the ground. "Hey! Can you pick me another one?" she questioned the blue haired girl.
The girl shifted her glasses over her nose. When Zora first sighted this blue haired girl, she couldn't help but remember Kuina. They both were blue haired swordswomen, who had a habit about talking about genders. Especially when this girl viewed Zora as another swordsman thanks to Zora's bandages around her chest. "Er..r...sure."
"Zoz!" Johnny claimed, "So cool!"
Yosaku shook his head vigorously. "It's Zora-sis! Course she would do something so awesome!"
The shopkeeper stood back up and slammed his fists on the table. He started a rant about the origins of the sword and how it was the finest sword he had, which Zora replied, "I can't buy it because I don't have enough."
"Shut up and just take it. Don't worry about the money." He stated, which caused the blue haired girl to raise her eyebrow. "The other sword is free too. I'm sorry that I was thinking about tricking you. I haven't seen a good swordsman in a long time. And...the swords will choose their owner! I wish you luck!"
Johnny and Yosaku cried as they listened to the shop keeper's words.
Zora grinned and added the two new swords bundled up in her green haramaki. She patted it and gave a bigger grin. It felt much better having three swords instead of a single one. She waved the shopkeeper off and walked out the door. 'Didn't have to borrow money in the first place...' she thought.
...
Urika turned the corner while Savi followed. People moved out of their way and stared at the giant fish in their hands. "Why did I have to do this?!" the Longnose girl grumbled.
"A lion?" Savi raised her curly eyebrow. Urika turned and glanced forward and gasped.
In front of the docks, in front of their ship, was a giant pink lion. Riding on it was a man with hair grown like bunny ears. Behind me was a sacked man who lay over the lion's back.
"A-A-A LI-LION!?" Urika dropped her side of the ship as her eyes widened.
"Looks like it...except for the pink," the blonde chef uttered. As soon as the fish touched the ground, Savi sent a kick to the other girl. "PICK UP THE FISH, IDIOT!"
"OUCH!" She squealed as she picked up the fish again and rubbed the back of her neck. "Uncalled for!"
The blonde completely ignored her as she walked forward, "What are you doing in front of our ship?" She asked him in a reserved tone instead of her usual flirty that she used with every other male; which caused Urika to raise her eyebrow.
"Our ship?" the man repeated. His eyes widened. These were the rest of the Rubberbones Pirates.
"No, our ship. NOT YOURS!" Urika commented. "This ship is under the reign of a great Ca-Sniper!"
Mohji started to sweat. He has already seen two of the monsters of the crew, but he hasn't heard of a great sniper. "RUN!" he shouted to his lion, and Richie ran for it. He jumped over the two pirates.
"THEY'RE GETTING AWAY!"
"Luffy-sama!" Savi's eyes widened as she spotted the rubber boy on the back of the lion. Even if she couldn't see his face, she knew it was him.
She took the fish out of Urika's hands and threw it on board. Within seconds she was chasing after the pink king of the jungle. The sniper glanced both ways; trying to decide if she should follow Savi or stay on the ship. "Oh shit..." she cursed herself as she turned to run after Savi. She knew already she was going to regret this decision. "WAIT UP!"
...
Niko picked up the pile of clothes and walked out of the door. The blood from Johnny and Yosaku nose bleeds were still there. As soon as he stepped out onto the street, he was met with a strange sight.
Bunny man riding a lion, dressed up as a bike, while being chased by a waitress and a tengu; he meant Savi and Urika.
Not to add there was a sack over a hostage's head.
Something about the pink lion reminded him of something but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Niko!" the Tengu, Urika, shouted.
"What the hell?" Zora cursed as she stood in front of the lion. It jumped over her without a second thought.
Savi gritted her teeth at the girl, "You moron, Mosshead! Luffy-sama was on that!"
"Luffy's been captured?!" Niko repeated with widen eyes. "I knew something like this would happen as soon as he gotten his bounty!" He shook his head in irritation and handed the pile of clothes into Johnny and Yosaku's hands. "Take these to the ship for me," he glanced at his captain riding away. They nodded at his command and he took off. He somehow caught up to Urika and the others were running ahead of them. "Even when he's asleep, he found a way to cause trouble!"
Richie took a sharp turn and passed a blue haired swordswoman. She froze there as the lion raced past her, and didn't even see those following it.
"Zora! Savi!" Urika called, "Can't you just carry us?!"
"I will carry Niko-swan~" she cooed, "Not you."
"Zora?" the girl questioned the name on her tongue. That name sounded so familiar. She stood in the street thinking, while the others ran past her and she fell onto the ground. She saw all of those who passed her. She even saw the green haired 'man' she saw from the sword shop, who wore three swords just like the demon of the East Blue. "RORONOA ZORO!"
She hopped up and unsheathed her sword to duel with the bad swordsman who used his powerful sword for money instead of for good purposes. Instead she was only meant with air as all of them were following the lion and barely noticed her.
"Tashigi-san!" another marine called her out from an alleyway. He raised his hand over his forehead, "Captain Smoker-san called for you." She nodded and slumped her shoulders. Before she followed the other marine back to the base, she gave one last look at the direction that 'Zoro' left too. It was because of people like 'him' that she dreamed about defeating all of those great swordsmen who traveled on the wrong path.
...
Richie jumped over a stone wall, and someone else took his place on the other side. A man with a long blue and white scarf stood there on an unicycle. "Roronoa Zoro." He unsheathe his blade, "Pleased to see you again."
"Eh?" she raised her eyebrow.
"You know him?!" Urika questioned the green haired. Niko narrowed his gaze; he remembered his face but the name was on the tip of his tongue.
"Don't you remember me, Roronoa?" As he talked, his wheel kept spinning. "What a shame. I guess I will have to give you a reminder."
"Cabaji!" Niko finally remembered the pirate's name.
The dark skinned woman turned her gaze away from Zora and onto Niko, "You know them?"
"Buggy's crew. Had a dispute with them."
Cabaji grinned as he licked his blade, "And now Captain Buggy will settle that dispute."
"Give us back Luffy!" Zora demanded as she unsheathe her three blades and took a step forward.
"Where are you hiding him?" Savi questioned. She didn't care if this man was a man, not when he took away her Prince Charming.
"You will see soon," he uttered. Zora charged forward and their swords clashed. Savi's eyes darted away from the battle and to the stone wall. She hopped over it; the same place that the lion and Luffy were heading. Niko and Urika glanced at each other and to the wall; before Niko lifted Urika over and he was lifted over.
They glanced around but all they saw was a small wooden shack with a hay roof. With a nod, the two ran inside of the building. Savi was already inside of the worn out little shack. Her deadly kicks went flying at the underlings who dared to halt her path to her prince. Urika took out her handy dandy slingshot and backed up the blond. While Niko took a hold of a stranded ax, which fell from one of the defeated underlings, and used that to defend himself; he really needed his own weapon.
"Where's Luffy-sama?!" Savi growled as her foot slammed down on one of the foes. She heard a door close and her eyes darted to the sound. She barely looked as she started kicking out all of those in her way to run out of the door.
Buggy stood on the roof of the small shack and grinned. He held up the sleeping captain within his left hand, while his other hand had a blade. Even though he rather had a flashy show, he had unplanned time restraints with the Rubberbones crew appearing. "Watch your captain have a flashy execution!" He laughed as he stared down at Savi.
Soon the other two members joined Savi outside of the shack, after they made it through all of the underlings inside. "E-Execution?!"
Savi grunted as she jumped onto the ceiling. Instead of staying on it, the first mate of the Buggy's Pirates pulled her back down onto the ground. "We won't let you pass," Mohji smiled as Richie showed all of his canine teeth.
Buggy smirked at his crew, "Watch as your captain's life ends!"
Urika readied another shot at Buggy and dropped it onto the ground. She dropped down onto her knees looking for the small thing, which ended up crushed when Richie's paw came down.
Savi's leg swift around while Richie backed away from the kick and onto Urika. "Help!" she moaned as the lion stepped on her. Niko raised his ax over his head and slashed forward.
The blonde nodded at the boy's help and glanced back at her dazed captain. Her cigarette fell onto the ground as she tried once more to hop onto the roof.
Buggy's attitude didn't change when Savi started racing to him. He only smiled and lifted up his blade to her captain's neck. The sack was now removed and left Luffy's face covered in flour remains.
"Fighting a man when he's defenseless is cowardly!" Savi snapped. She already disliked the guy as soon as he laid his hands on her captain, but doing something like this was beyond anything. No Prince Charming would do such a cowardly act. Not even a real man would stoop that low.
"He won't even feel anything," his blade glinted in the sunlight as the sharp side of the sword touched his neck. "It will just be a long nap for him."
"But you will feel it!" She drove her foot into his chest. His grip on her captain's neck and blade was gone as the two items fell down onto the roof. She grabbed Luffy behind him and touched the roof.
Buggy fell back against the hay patting and glared at the ungrateful girl. "You flashly little bitch!"
Bitch.
That was not a word someone should use whenever she was in the room.
She narrowed her eyes and pounded against his chest with her light-speeding kicks. He took each hit as he sprayed spit into her face.
"MARINES!"
His hand split from his body and grabbed her by her collar. Her eyes widened as she looked back at the bodiless hand. "Whua-?"
"Heh!" he chuckled at her surprise. "You really think I would go down so easily? I'm Buggy of the Buggy Pirates who ate the devil fruit! I'm a splitting man!" He raised his other hand and separated his fingers from his palm to show her his powers. "You can't go against someone like me."
Savi smirked as she shifted Luffy's body over her shoulder. "Just because you split, you can still feel my kicks! If I was a swordsman, it would be a different story." His jaw dropped as she kicked him off the roof.
She looked down where marines scattered through the shack. "Come on! We gotta go!" Niko ordered from behind the shack.
"Anything you say, Niko-san~!" she smiled and hopped back down onto the ground. She grabbed the two pirates and hopped over the fence. Somehow Zora was standing there with a defeated Cabaji on the ground.
"Are we going?" she questioned.
"Marines," Niko shook his head. "Probably followed the lion to this shack like we did."
Zora understood and followed their lead out of the mess. As soon as they left the alley ways, the marines sighted them. Niko's eyes widened as he saw a sight. "Smoker..."
"What was that?" Savi looked back, "You want a smoke, Niko-san?"
He sighed and shook his head. They should only focus on getting out of here more than anything. If that marine caught them with Luffy unconscious then they would be in trouble. Urika was turned around, making quick shots at those marines getting close and closer.
The blond, being the faster, took the route on the outside of the city. She didn't know where the dock was, but she knew eventually she would find it if she stayed on the edge. And soon a huge wall came into view, behind it was the docks. "Jump for it!" Niko uttered as he glanced back. A blue haired marine was running closer and closer. She dodged all of Urika's hits.
Zora uttered something under her breath and broke up from the group. Her sword clashed against the blue haired. "You were Roronoa Zoro!" she growled at the other woman. "I've never thought you were him. You must be so proud of yourself that you can trick me! I can't forgive you now!"
"So, you are a marine?" she questioned.
She pulled her glasses off, "I will take Wadoichi from you."
"Try it if you can," she smiled with bloodthirst in her eyes. She was always one for a good fight; which was the opposite of one she got from Cabaji. "You go first!" she called out to the rest of the crew.
They ran for it while Zora caught the second highest ranked marine at bay.
Smoke appeared within the city and kept getting closer and closer. He looked over at Urika for any help. Maybe she had a few bombs on her; which she did and only had two left since she's been firing them on the other marines. Urika placed a small pellet in her slingshot and aimed at the center of the fog, hoping this would be a hit.
Tashigi was backed up against the wall; her sword laid on the ground several meters away. Her eyes were dilated as the demon was inches away from her face. She was ready for the Demon of East Blue to end her life right there and then.
The swordsman grinned in victory. "No matter what happens, I won't give this sword to anyone!" She withdrew and replaced her sword back into their cases. "I have to go now, bye."
The pellet shot through the air and was engulfed into the smoke.
She bit her lips and yelled, "WHY DIDN'T YOU KILL ME?" This 'man' was just like the others she has seen. Always giving mercy to those they think are weaker than them, women. "Is it because I'm a woman?" She was tired of this. She may have been born a woman, but she was a swordsman at heart. "In a real match, there is no man or woman. If you don't fight with your real power that will be the most shameful thing. You will never understand my feelings about being born as a woman."
Zora's eyes narrowed, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING!"
"Eh?"
"I'VE NEVER LIKED YOU SINCE THE FIRST TIME WE MET!"
Finally, the pellet exploded, but only added more smoke. There was zero damage done. Urika and Niko gasped and glanced at each other. "WE ARE LEAVING NOW!"
"COME ON, ZORA!" Urika shouted back at the green haired. Keeping them at bay wasn't going to work now, especially when Smoker charged onto the route right behind the herd of marines.
Zora nodded and joined up with the others. Leaving Tashigi in the middle of the street, "Zora?"
Finally the wall appeared behind Savi and she jumped over gracefully, with the other two falling on their assholes trying to attempt the jump. Johnny and Yosaku appeared in front of them. "Savi-aneki! Luffy-bro! Urika-sis! Niko-aniki!"
"Hello Bello~!" she smiled as she dashed past them and got on the ship. She laid Luffy on the deck to help Niko on board while Urika climbed up the rope. Zora came last as a ball of smoke was hurled her way. She dodged it in the nick of time and jumped onto the ship, slicing the ropes that held the ship at the docks.
Johnny and Yosaku took out their blades and blocked the marines' path.
"Johnny-san! Yosku-san!" Savi shouted.
"GOODBYE!" they cried as they got into battle position.
"Heh, I told you they would come through..." Zora smirked at her two traveling companions.
"They...risked their lives for us?" Urika leaned over the railing and cried.
"It's not like they will get arrested. As long as they don't harm anyone."
The Going Merry sailed away from the docks.
...
Luffy lifted his head from the pillow and looked around, "Eh? It's still night?" A yawn escaped his lips.
"YOU IDIOT!"
"MORON!"
"LUFFY-SAMA~!"
He turned his head and looked at the others, "You guys are still awake?" He raised his hands behind his head and remembered something. "Oi, Savi, what's a period?"
Origin of Smoker: He smokes. And his devil fruit is the Smoke Smoke Fruit (too lazy to look up the real name). That's...about it.
Guest1: You cried? Oh wow...I even wrote more on his backstory, posted it here, called "Niko's Tale" by the way. And yeah, next chappie I got something planned for Savi.
minhthu12-Present: Well, we see in this chappie, don't we? :D Poor Niko...somehow he joined Luffy Harem...
