Ch. 5

Quinox

A/N: Well, sorry it took so long, but I hope the length is worth the wait. So, the crew finally makes it to the island, but how will they be recieved?

I just want to tank everyone who has reviewed, you're really the ones who have kept me working on my silly little story for so long. and I'm sorry that ch.4 was so... well... poorly edited. Live and learn I guess.

Usopp may have been a coward and a liar, but he was no idiot. He couldn't have been, and survived this long. He saw far more than he admitted to the others, like the fact that Nami was starting to return at least some of Sanji's affections. She was nowhere near as overt about it as he was, no hearts in her eyes for him. In fact Usopp wouldn't have been surprised if she hadn't even noticed that she was doing it herself. But it was almost as plain as the nose on his face to him. Hmm… maybe something positive would actually come out of the whole almost-starving-to-death thing.

Pushing such idle thoughts from his mind, he returned to his self-appointed task of checking the harbor to make sure it was safe for them to dock. There were no marine ships in the man made bay as they approached. This was a good thing, but Usopp was still wary. There was always a chance for trouble to occur, a fact he knew all too well. No marines meant that there wouldn't be as many problems to face here as they normally did. Knowing his co-captain Luffy as he did however, there were sure to be plenty of problems in this place, and a greater than normal chance for "adventure." Adventure almost always meant pain, and Usopp didn't like pain. Luffy didn't seem to mind it too much, and speaking of Luffy…

"Oi, Nami!" He called to the navigator on the deck below him. Stop flirting with Sanji "Have you seen Luffy?"

That was enough to stop Nami in her tracks. Turning away from her Sanji-kun, huh? When had she started thinking of him as hers? She looked up to the crow's-nest, the blood draining from her face. "Wh… what was that?"

"Have. You. Seen. Luffy?" Ussop repeated for her, slowly this time.

"Umm…" Nami said, her mind utterly blanking as the utter horror of Luffy, on an island, alone, began to wash over her. No, this couldn't be happening, he couldn't have done that. No… he promised he wouldn't go alone..Then again, this was Luffy. He must have gone to the island. There were just no two ways about it. What Luffy wanted, Luffy did. She was going to kill him the next time she saw him… Hmm… maybe Sanji would lend her a few of his sharpest knives. Yeah, that would do the trick.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Robin-chwan for a while either." Mentioned Sanji in an almost offhanded manner.

"Well, he was really impatient to get to the island. He must have taken her with him." Nami reasoned, pure relief washing over her. If Robin was with Luffy then there was nothing to worry about. She would keep Luffy in check… Nami hoped.

"That makes sense." Usopp shrugged.

"But they could be anywhere on the island by now." Chopper cried. "Where should we even start looking?"

"This is Luffy we're talking about, Chopper." Usopp explained, coming down from the crow's-nest. "there's only one place he could have gone."

"Where?"

"To the tavern!" Exclaimed Nami, Sanji, and Usopp.

"Huh? What? Tavern?" Zoro asked groggily, coming not quite awake at the sudden noise. "Good… I'm hungry…" And with that he was out again.

Breaking into laughter they soon made landfall.

The old man who met them at the dock was a genial sort, the kind that never seemed willing to hurt a soul. With a wave of his wrinkled hand he flagged them down. "Ahoy there, younglings! You might not want to dock here."

"And why not, Ossan?" Sanji called, "What's the problem?"

"Well, you're pirates."

"Something wrong with pirates? Zoro asked, scratching his head and yawning as he came over, still not fully awake.

"You stay out of this, Mossman!"

"Oh yeah?" Zoro shot back reflexively, "You gonna make me, Curleybrow?"

"And what if I am?"

The fighting could have gone on all day, as it had many times in the past, had Nami not stepped in. A judicious application of violence soon had both men down, nursing matching goose eggs on the backs of their heads. Turning back to the old man in the simple black clothing, Nami smiled, trying her hardest to look friendly. "You were saying?"

"I was?" The old man asked absently, scratching his gray haired head. "…Oh, yes… You may not want to dock here in the main port, being pirates and all."

"What do you mean?"

"Well… I got not quarrel with pirates, we get few enough visitors here in Quinox. It's just that the visitors we do get are mostly from the navy." He explained, "I'm sure you can see the problem."

"No doubt." Muttered Usopp

"But there is an abandoned dock if you sail to the east, following the island's coast for a few leagues." The old man explained, pointing, "Your ship should be safe there. No one ever uses it anymore."

"Yosh! Thank you Ossan!" Nami called, smiling.

"It's no problem Nee-chan. I'll see you all in a bit." With a wave he sent them off to find the abandoned dock. "When you get back here, ask for Hurley, Someone will show you where I'll be."

"Hurley-san!" Luffy cried around a mouthful of meat as the old man walked into the tavern. The tavern was as normal as could be, and much to Luffy's delight had, before he and Robin had arrived, an excess supply of meat. "You're back!"

"Yes, yes… I'm back." Hurley laughed, taking a seat by the young man. How could anyone eat so much? It was amazing to watch.

Nursing a cup of coffee, Robin smiled a slight greeting. "So, tell me Mayor-san, how did you like our crew?"'

"They were quite… memorable. Especially the strong young woman."

"That's our Nami!" Luffy grinned, tearing into what had to be his twentieth large piece of meat.

"I sent them to…" Hurley hesitated "…An old abandoned dock. They should be here very soon, provided they don't get lost. Although I don't see how they could, all they have to do is follow the path running to the west."

"Arigato, Mayor-san." Robin said. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course, Nee-chan."

"Have you ever come across something called a Poneglyph?"

Blinking in surprise, Hurley cleared his throat. "A what?"

"A Poneglyph."

"What's that?"

"It's a huge cube of blue stone with symbols carved into one side." Robin explained.

Hurley shook his head. "…I've never even heard of such a thing, much less seen one. Sorry I can't be of more help."

"But… but what about those stones on the northern beach?" She protested. "The blue ones with the ancient symbols on them

"Rocks with symbols… rocks with… Oh! you've been to the Runebeach?" Hurley asked, nodding his head.

"Runebeach?" Robin asked.

"Yes… The Runebeach. It's got.thousands… maybe... hundreds… ok… tens of those stones scattered about it." Hurley said. "I've been all over this island, and that's the only place that has 'em."

Before he could continue the door to the tavern swung open, revealing a raven-haired newcomer. He was of average height an weight with an air of self-assurance about him. Swaggering in, he took a seat at a table and flagged a waitress over. The most noticeable things about him were his ready smile, his dark purple eyes, and the rumpled navy uniform he wore.

"Who's that?" Luffy asked, swallowing his meat.

"…that's Vice-Admiral Saros…" Hurley explained, a grimace upon his lips. It was obvious that the mayor of Quinox didn't like the navy man, and it was also obvious that Saros didn't care, as his eyes lit upon Hurley he waved. "May the sea take his bones…"

"Hurley, you old dog, how are you this fine day?" Saros called, abandoning his newly claimed table, and sauntering over to the bar. "And I see you have some guests. Mugiwara Luffy, and Nico Robin… Strange company you're keeping these days."

"Go jump in the sea Saros." Hurley groused, taking a long swig of his drink. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Now now my old friend, that's no way to talk to the navy." Saros drawled, leaning on the counter. "Don't you agree, Miss Robin?"

"…"

"Anyway…" He shrugged, smiling once more. "I'm just here to tell you that I'll be out of your hair soon, Hurley-chan. Certain matters are soon to be wrapped up here. A navy ship will be here to pick me up within the week." Taking his feet, he patted Luffy on the shoulder before he took his leave. "You might not want to be seen around here when it does come, Mugiwara. Most naval officers aren't as freindly as I am."

Unnoticed to either Hurley, or Robin, Luffy's eyes went blank for a second, whether in fear, or because of something else, not even he knew. Just as suddenly as it had started, the feeling left and everything was normal again. Luffy went back to seeing how much meat he could force down his throat in a limited time with a shrug. If the navy man didn't want to pick a fight, he was more than happy to hold his peace.

With bottle in hand, Saros casually made his way out of the tavern, acting as if he owned the place. Adjusting his hat, he stepped into the brilliant sun, his coat billowing out behind him slightly from the minor breeze.

"I can't stand that man… not at all…" Hurley muttered darkly. "Not at all…"

Robin was inclined to agree with him.

A/N: Hmm... whatever will happen next? I hope you liked Hurley and Saros, they were a blast to write! I wanted to make Usopp's point of view the focus for this chapter, but it got away from me. Hopefully Ch.6 won't take so long to write.

Lealo, y diganme que piensan.

(read it and tell me what you think... A.K.A. review!)