The Straw Hat Wolf

by KrazeeBeagle

Luffy sets out to achieve his dream of becoming the Pirate King, form the best crew to sail the seas and help them all achieve their dreams as well. Standard One Piece. Differences? A non-canon Mythical Zoan fruit, with a power and history the Five Elders has no interest in dealing with again. Vastly-Slightly Different Luffy and co. Rated M for Violence, Implied Smut Only

4. Orange Town

Orange Town

Pack, Chouchou, Buggy Beatdown

(Warning: Graphic Depiction of Violence is Present. You have been warned.)

LUFFY'S POV

As the sun sets I wordlessly offer my coat to Nami who takes it gratefully before heading to the back of the ship to sleep. "Remember to check the compass and stars every now and then all right?" She reminded me as she passed. I nodded and faced forwards, Zoro looked like he was going to doze off as well. 'Well, I can't have you doing that just yet.' Making eye contact with him I gestured for him to follow me to the front of the ship so Nami would have even less of a chance overhearing our conversation. Zoro looked confused but followed, curiosity bright in his narrow eyes.

"Something wrong, Luffy?" I pressed my finger to my lips indicating for him to lower his voice as I observed Nami whose breathing evened out and heart rate consistent. "This stays between you and I for now Zoro, got it?" Sitting down, Zoro faced me with stone cold seriousness. "Understood, captain."

"How much do you know about devil fruits?"

"Not a lot. Before meeting you I didn't really think they were real to be honest." I sighed before taking a deep breath before giving him a quick rundown on what they were, what the consequences for eating them was, the different classes, and how devil fruit users were common in the Grand Line. "Now my devil fruit in specific… well it's one of the more busted ones. My fruit is the Inu Inu no Mi; Model: -" The wind blows quietly, ruffling our hairs as Zoro's eyes widen more and more as I continue to explain what I knew my fruit was capable of. While explaining I made sure to keep my ears open for any changes in Nami's breathing pattern or heart beat but as both remained steady I had no need to stop. By the end of it Zoro was openly gaping at me, not the comical way where it reaches the floor or even just opened fully, it was parted and his eyes seemed to refuse to blink as he absorbed the new information.

"Just to be sure… not all devil fruits are this ridiculous right?" Shaking my head, Zoro breathed a sigh of relief. "So Zoro. Will you accept my gift?" Zoro looked down in contemplation, wrestling with himself if such a thing would go against what he strove for. "Run it by me again. What happens when I become part of your pack."

"One of the special abilities granted to me by my mythical zoan fruit is the power to bless those who join my pack. Your senses and instincts become sharper and ties to others in the pack stronger. Your loyalty to the survival and safety of the pack is absolute and the rate at which you develop is drastically increased. The downside is you'll need to consume more to keep up with your enhanced capabilities as well as ways to keep active to burn off all the energy." Zoro nodded in understanding but still didn't seem to be sure. "…Isn't it kind of like cheating?" I raised an eyebrow at that but considered his position for a moment.

"You think accepting this gift will make it seem like you're taking a shortcut to becoming the greatest swordsman." Zoro nodded, looking conflicted. "I'm honored by the offer Luffy, and that you're willing to share everything regarding your fruit but…" Disappointed, and honestly stubborn, I pondered a bit more into how I could explain it wasn't cheating before I had simultaneously had a eureka moment and felt like smacking myself for not seeing how poorly I phrased how the increased rate of development worked immediately.

"To be clear Zoro, when I mean it increases the rate of development, it's because you're forced into being more active. You develop faster because you're working longer and longer hours into your training. It's not some miracle drug or magic spell that gives you a decisive advantage, it just makes you more disciplined in your duties to the pack. In this case since you're first mate and a swordsman your rate of development physically is only pushed forward by your desire to protect. Think of it like drinking an energy drink, you drink it so you can push further beyond. Or if you were a bookworm drinking coffee so you could go on reading for longer hours into the night" Zoro blinked before asking about the sharper senses and instincts. "Oh trust me that will be balanced out by the amount of shit you'll deal with in exchange for it."

"…Well I guess there isn't really any other reason to decline it. Protecting you and our future crewmates is a matter of course as first mate after all."

"So how exactly do I… you know become part of your pack?"

"Have you ever heard of werewolves?"

"Yeah. Why?" I stared blankly at him waiting for him to realize. 'One Fist of Love, Two Fists of Love, Three Fi-' Zoro's widened in realization and a little disgust before he exclaimed. "YOU NE-" Covering his mouth and shushing the man I glanced at Nami who shifted in her sleep but just snuggled deeper into my coat, her breathing and heart rate steadying. Sighing I released my hand from Zoro's mouth, the man's eyes twitching. "I'm not running around with a bite mark on my neck." Now it was my turn to look at him with disgust. "I'm not giving you a mate mark jackass."

"Mate mark?" Sighing I went more into wolf pack dynamics. How those of my pack would mark their mates on their neck, typically only females wore marks and it was up to them, the females, if they wanted their male partner to carry one as well. "Just give me your arm." Exasperated, I grew my canines to the point they were sticking out of my lips. "That's disturbing." I rolled my eyes at Zoro's comment and just pulled his offered arm closer. "Ready?" Getting a nod of confirmation I bit down on his arm and a silvery luminescence began spreading from where I broke into his skin in a spider-web like manner. Zoro grit his teeth but didn't flinch glaring towards the sea. I let go once the luminescence stopped spreading, reaching his jaw, the entirety of his left side, that was visible, below his face covered in spider-web like cracks glowing silver moonlight.

"Congratulations. You're my first mate on the pirate crew as well as my first pack member." Spitting out the blood and wiping the remnants from my mouth I stood and took my compass out to ensure that we we're still en route towards Orange Town. I looked up as Zoro seemed to wobble. "I'd recommend you rest Zoro. Much better you're asleep to let the changes go on their natural course than to fight it."

I got a grunt in response as Zoro changed to take a seat by the bow of the ship, leaning his three swords against himself. I sweatdropped as the man's head tilted backwards and a snore escaped his lips before he shifted and continued sleeping silently. Shaking my head with a sigh I returned to the task at hand. 'Hope you're as great as Shanks made you out to be, Buggy.'

No One's POV

"…" Luffy could feel an eye twitch as he got off the boat watching the ruins of what was probably a quiet, peaceful town, 'Dad… I think I might strangle your best friend. Sorry…' the scent of dried blood wafting through the air ' really not sorry.'

Nami looked gloomily towards the town before giving me a sad smile. "So I guess this is good…bye… Luffy? Are you ok?" Nami's gloom receded, replaced with a look of concern.

"… Zoro how do you feel about teaching this Buggy a lesson?"

Zoro glanced at me before shrugging. "I don't really mind… but why are we teaching him a lesson? If it's about the town being in shambles, that's pretty typical pirate stuff. Not that I'm complaining, more fighting down the line for me, just curious."

"He's not wrong, Luffy. This… this is what pirates are usually like…" A dark look crossed Nami's face as she heard the monster's laugh echo in her mind. "This is personal." Luffy said, walking towards the town, not giving anything else for his two companions to go off of. Nami and Zoro turned to each other silently asking one another if they knew what that was about before running to catch up to the man with his eyes shadowed by his straw hat.

Having caught up with Luffy, Nami decided to ask. "How is this personal?" Ok yes definitely rude but seeing as this was the angriest she'd ever seen him Nami couldn't help giving in to her curiosity. "… He's supposedly an old crewmate of my dad." Zoro who had decided to keep to himself and not intrude on his captain's privacy shifted uncomfortably drawing his captain's attention. Zoro silently questioned his captain through eye contact if he should back away and leave him and Nami to discuss this amongst themselves. Luffy was about to shake his head, figuring as his first mate Zoro might as well know who he recognized as his father but snapped his head towards the sound of a cannon being fired, Zoro's own newly enhanced senses allowing him to follow suit not that far behind. Just like that a section of the already ruined town lit up like the 4th of July as the cannon detonated, propelling strong winds towards the three.

BOOM!

Luffy held his hat down so it wouldn't go flying away, his coat flowing with the gusts of wind. Where Luffy and Zoro watched impassively and stood resolutely against the power of the cannon, Nami staggered and stepped back in fright. "What the hell was that?!"

"A cannonball. Looks like Buggy isn't done terrorizing this place yet." Zoro commented seemingly not impressed or shaken by the earlier event. Luffy's glare just darkened further before he started walking towards the dock on the opposite side of town. 'The cannonball was fired in that direction, so Buggy, or at least his men are there as well.'

"You steal from pirates right Nami?" While it seemed like a loaded question what with the withering glare Luffy had on Nami didn't feel any of its malice was directed at her so she nodded. "Bleed them dry."

"With pleasure!" Somehow the woman's eyes turned into belli symbols as she grinned, wholeheartedly onboard with the command. Zoro sweatdropped watching her display.

Soon the three heard the sound of partying, a pirate ship with a jolly roger of a big red nosed skull.

"Fire another one!"

"Another one, Cabaji!"

A tall lanky dark green haired man glared exasperatedly at the demands of the Buggy Pirate crew members. "No. One was enough. No more Buggy Balls will be fired until the Captain returns."

"Oh come on, Cabaji! As long as we do it flashily the Captain won't mind!" A crewmember groaned, similar whines and demands following.

"I said, we wait for-"

"Hey circus freaks! Where's your scum of a captain?!" A voice called from the port. A moment of silence later, they registered the insult and proceeded to see who dared to try picking a fight with them. "What business do you have with Captain Buggy, the man who will be king, boy." Cabaji said, glaring down at the man and his two companions.

Luffy narrowed his eyes as he listened for anything that could pass as a Captain with his observation haki but found only trash. The dark green haired man on board the ship didn't take kindly to being ignored and dropped down.

"I won't ask again, boy. What do you want with Captain Buggy?!" The man growled.

Unamused by the barking of a Chihuahua Luffy growled back. "I don't waste my time on janitors."

"J-J-ANITOR?!" The long dark green haired man cried in outrage. "I AM CABAJI, CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE BUGGY PIRATES YOU INSOLENT FOOL!" Grinning with malice as Luffy's jaw dropped, mistaking it for a sign of fear.

"You? You're the Chief of Staff?" Luffy said, stupefied.

"That's right boy! Grovel and maybe I'll let you live?"

Luffy began shaking. To Cabaji and the Buggy Pirates it looked like he was shaking in his boots full of fright, to Nami, who saw his eye twitching rapidly as if he was about to have an aneurysm, well… she shook her head feeling sorry for the Chief of Staff. Zoro glared and walked in front of his captain. "Let me deal with this Luffy." Luffy took a deep breath and exhaled to calm his nerves acknowledging the silent continuation. 'No sense in a Captain wasting his energy on this joker.'

As if just now seeing him Cabaji's eyes widened in recognition. "You! You're Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!" The Buggy pirate crew members began mumbling amongst each other, also recognizing the green haired swordsman. "Retired from bounty hunting actually. Now, I'm a pirate." Zoro said back calmly, drawing his two blades and placing Wado Ichimonji in his mouth. Cabaji's eyes lit with passion as he too drew a sword. "I am in fact a swordsman myself, Roronoa! And after I defeat you my fame will rise to new heights!" Finishing his exclamation Cabaji pulled out and assembled a… unicycle?

Zoro blinked numerous times watching Cabaji get on the unicycle and ready his blade. "... You can't be serious." Zoro's battle stance slipped slightly as he stared incredulously at the other swordsman.

"Oh I am! Acrobat Technique:…" Rushing towards Zoro with his sword arm tensed across his chest and his other hand behind him, Cabaji appeared to be going for a frontal assault. Luffy, on the other hand, could hear what he was planning with his Observation Haki and scowled but didn't interfere in the two men's duel. As Cabaji was only a few feet away, Zoro felt the sudden urge to duck. Trusting his instincts, Zoro ducked, sidestepping for good measure as Cabaji threw out a molotov. "Old Man Arsonist!"

The molotov sailed through the air towards Nami who yelped and tried to move out the way but she wouldn't make it in time. 'SHIT!' Zoro cursed inwardly knowing he was too far away to do anything. Before the incendiary bottle could reach her though, Luffy pulled her out if harms way and into his arms before grabbing and flinging the bomb at the ship. Smashing against the mast, the molotov burst into flames, igniting the sails bearing the Buggy Pirates Jolly Roger. The men on board yelped, scrambling to put the flames out before it would reach the symbol of their crew's pride.

Enraged witnessing his Captain's beloved mark being tarnished, Cabaji roared. "YOU FILTHY BASTARD! HAVE YOU NO HONOR?!" Cabaji pedaled furiously towards Luffy and Nami only to be intercepted by an equally enraged Zoro. "A swordsman who would resort to petty party tricks has no right to question anyone about honor." Zoro stated coldly having zero respect for the scum in front of him.

"BAH! WHO NEEDS HONOR IN A FIGHT AS LONG! AS LONG AS YOU WIN, YOU TELL THE STORY!" Backpedaling away, Cabaji reaches behind himself once again. 'Another Molotov?' Zoro tensed, preparing for what the bastard would throw out next.

"Acrobat Technique:Murder At The Steam Bath!"

Zoro grit his teeth as the smoke exploded outwards and blocked his vision. 'I will beat you like a Cherokee drum.' Zoro, though blind visually in the smoke, followed Cabaji's movements, the bastard trying to get around him and attack from behind. "Oni-" Zoro turned as Cabaji began rushing from behind. "GIRI!"

The smoke dispelled after the two clashed against each other, revealing Zoro calmly sheathing his blades and Cabaji frozen balanced on his unicycle. Once Wado Ichimonji clicked into place, Cabaji's body spouted blood and crumpled onto the floor.

"CABAJI!" The Buggy Pirates screamed in horror as they rushed towards his fallen figure, the fire having been stopped little more than inch away from the jolly roger they held dear. Zoro looked up to his Captain and the Thief/Navigator with shame and guilt in his eyes. "Sorry"

"It's fine, Zoro. Luffy got me out of the way, I didn't get hurt… more importantly you taught the dishonorable bastard a lesson." Zoro smirked at Nami's cheshire grin, blushing as she'd only just gotten out of Luffy's embrace. Luffy himself just watched as the Buggy Pirates turned tail and ran, bringing their fallen comrade with them back to the ship. "... Let's go explore the town for a bit. See if there's any civilians we can help. Buggy will be back here eventually and probably send someone to look for us anyway." Turning away from the ship with frantic crew members aboard, Luffy began walking towards the ruined town. Nami and Zoro followed, the former pouting slightly that she hadn't gotten to steal anything yet. "Buggy probably has some gold or jewelry on himself away from the ship, Nami, not to mention any possible gold he has hidden away in secret safes. Wait till later and you can relieve him of those as well" Cue another round of a swordsman sweat dropping and chocolate brown eyes turning into belli symbols.

Not long after, a slim blue-haired man with an appearance resembling that of a clown stopped and shook at the sight of the ship. The man sported a crossbone tattoo that collided at his forehead and went past his eyes, red lipstick and a big round red nose. He wore an orange Captain's hat bearing the symbol of the Buggy Pirates as well as an orange captain's coat, white and red striped shirt, a green sash tied around his waist, light green pants and white gloves. This man is Buggy the Clown, Captain of the Buggy Pirates, worth 15,000,000 Belli and at the moment completely pissed. Rushing onboard his vessel he glared at his crew who had somehow not noticed him there and were crowded around someone. "Mind explaining what happened here you incompetent buffons?" He started coldly as his crew jumped back in fear hearing their captain.

"C-Captain! It's Cabaji he's-" Seeing his first mate laying on the ground, bloody from laceration wounds, Buggy's rage briefly dissipated to shock before burning anew. "Who came to my ship, burned my sail bearing my jolly roger, and did this to my first mate?!"

"I-I-t was a man wearing a straw hat demanding to see you sir! He had Roronoa Zoro and an orange haired woman with him. Roronoa was the one who did this to Cabaji." Stuttering at first the crew member finished with malice in his voice. Buggy blinked when he heard a man wearing a straw hat had come looking for him though. 'It can't be that bastard Shanks. He was on the paper just yesterday caught drinking a whole town dry in the New World… not to mention he hasn't worn that hat in years if the sightings of him published on the news are any indication… and he did lose it around the time he supposedly left the East blue… nah can't be'

Buggy grinned with malice and fire in his eyes deciding it must just be a coincidence. "Well there's only one thing to do then." Walking towards the side of the ship he faced his companion who accompanied him on his walk around town. "Mohji! Bring me Roronoa Zoro and his two companions! One is a man wearing a straw hat and the other an orange haired woman! I WANT TO EXECUTE FLASHILY!" The Buggy Pirates roared in agreement and cheered Mohji on.

Mohji was the first mate and thus Vice Captain of the Buggy Pirates, he was a man with a muscular torso and thick lips, wearing a white fur vest that covers his chest, green pants held up by a black sash and shoes in the shape of an animal with white fur feet. At the moment he sat squatting above a large green lion with a purple mane, his pet Richie. "You heard the Captain, Richie. Let's get those pests." The lion growled in approval before running off to find the aggressors.

"They will pay for this flashily, Cabaji. I swear." Buggy promised as he sat down next to his Chief of Staff who remained unconscious.

Meanwhile in front of a pet food shop stood a small white dog with thin ears, beady black eyes, and a short, brush-like tail having a staring contest with Luffy. This had gone on for about 30 seconds since the three of them had come across the pooch, Zoro and Nami turning to each other wondering if they should try getting Luffy's attention or if they should continue to wait for whatever it was going on between Luffy and the dog to end.

"Uh Luffy why are you-"

"What are you young'uns doing to Chouchou?" Zoro and Nami turned to an elderly looking man with gray hair that's been arranged in three lumps, to on his side and one on the front. He was wearing a yellow lined shirt with dark green pants and circular glasses. He stared questioningly at the group only for Zoro and Nami to shrug and turn to Luffy still having a staring contest with the dog. The small pooch then barked and lay down pointing its stomach upwards to Luffy with a wagging tail, in response Luffy kneeled and gave the pup a belly rub. "You're a tough little guy aintcha?"

Looking even more confused, although with a hint of endearment or amusement, Nami and Zoro both asked Luffy what the hell the staring contest was about. "This little guy here's standing guard for this shop. Apparently it used to be owned by his owner, a guy named Hocker… he isn't around anymore…" Luffy said with a bittersweet smile, proud of the dog's commitment to his loved one while also sad for his loss. "This pet shop is his greatest treasure, the place his owner raised him in and loved him with all his heart for as long as he can remember."

Nami's heart clenched in sympathy for the small pooch who she also approached to give some love and attention to, the pooch slightly apprehensive at first before lolling his tongue in bliss from a chin scratch. Zoro grinned, the dog earning his respect for his commitment. The old man however just stared at Luffy in shock. "How on Earth did you know that? A-are you related to Hocker in some way?" The old man approached now with a look like he'd seen a long lost relative he dearly missed. "Nah. Chouchou told me. Nice to meet you, Mayor Boodle. The little guy also told me about you taking care of him a lot of the time." Straightening up, Luffy raised his hand towards the Mayor, offering to shake his hand in greeting. Flustered, the Mayor stammered out a greeting in return.

"Huh? A-ah yes! Nice to meet you too, Mr… er?"

"Monkey D. Luffy, Pirate and dog whisperer." Luffy said with an infectious smile, Mayor Boodle couldn't help smiling back at the tall young man only to stop dead and glare. "Pirate?" Luffy also dropped his smile and expressed his displeasure through a scowl knowing what the Mayor was thinking. "I came here to meet an old friend of my dad, he's a pirate too but… he doesn't do this." Gesturing to the ruins he continued. "I thought Buggy was like my dad, got into piracy for the adventure albeit more obsessed with the treasure hunting aspect of it… Now I'm praying dad forgives me when I see him again after I send Buggy packing."

Mayor Boodle blinked slowly processing the information. Deciding that the young man was trustworthy, he got Chouchou to like him so he was good in his book, the mayor offered the three a meal at his place a little ways away from the pet store. The three agreed as it was pretty close to noon and they'd only been able to eat bread and preservative meats for breakfast, the mayor prepared and served Chouchou's lunch before leading the three to his home.

As they were eating, Nami turned to Luffy. "Luffy… if it's fine with you… could you tell me a bit more about your dad? You've brought him up a lot recently." Zoro coughed a bit, giving the woman a glare but Nami ignored it, she was curious to know more about the mysterious and admittedly attractive man she'd grown fond of. 'I wish I could set sail with you already Luffy but… I can't leave them to him while I roam free.' Her eyes grew gloomy, recalling what awaited her back home. Luffy noticed but didn't comment on it and just took off his hat, completely, even the string came off. That caught his two companions' attention as they'd never once seen him take it off.

"This hat was given to me by my father. It's my greatest treasure and a reminder of the promise I made with him 10 years ago before he set sail and returned to the Grand Line." Smiling fondly Luffy leaned back and twirled his hat like a baseball. "'Give it back to me someday, when you've become a great pirate.' he said after he placed this hat on my head and boarded his ship." Having stopped twirling the hat, Luffy returned it back to its rightful place. "That's why I plan on becoming the Pirate King before I face off with him in the New World and return his hat which he himself received from someone he admired greatly, his former captain and mentor, the late Pirate King, Gol D. Roger."

Zoro, Nami and Mayor Boodle had been quiet throughout the tale, the latter two tearing up slightly at the fondness of which Luffy had while sharing it, the former wishing to meet the man who made such an his captain's life and, even if knowing of him only through a tale, gained admiration and respect for. The knowledge bomb Luffy dropped at the end however made Nami and Mayor Boodle fall from their seats in shock, the spoon in Zoro's mouth clattering as it dropped into his plate.

"W-WHAT?!"

"FORMER CAPTAIN AND MENTOR?!"

"P-P-PIRATE KING, GOL D. ROGER?!"

For the first time in his life Zoro scrunched up his face in pain as his ears rang in agony, Luffy only mildly annoyed as while loud he was used to and prepared for the pain. 'Yeah, that's only the tip of the iceberg for downsides Zoro.'

"L-L-Luffy w-who IS your dad?!" The man grinned at Nami who was too shaken to not stutter her words. "The Captain of the Red-Hair Pirates, 1 of the 4 Emperors of the Sea, Red-hair Shanks."

BOOM!

Mayor Boodle fainted and face planted into the floor, Zoro looked at Luffy like he was a celebrity he wanted to meet for a long time and Nami looked like her brain started glitching as she stammered incoherently, eyes turning into swirls.

"Shanks as in the rival of Dracule Mihawk?!" Zoro openly grinned widely at Luffy who mirrored his expression with a nod. "You're his son?"

"Yeah, in all but genetics." Luffy said as he returned to a normal seating position to continue his lunch. "My biological father isn't someone I'm close to or even spent time with since I was born. My Gramps raised me whenever he had time but until meeting Shanks I didn't have a father figure in my life, or mother figure for that matter. My adoptive older sister was the one who took care of me while she ran her bar back home." The fact that Luffy was raised by people who weren't his parents seemed to strike a chord with Nami and Zoro who had similar circumstances. Both looked like they wanted to know more but Luffy suddenly stood up and faced the direction of the pet shop Chouchou guarded. "Wake the Mayor then catch up. Chouchou is in trouble." was all Luffy said before running out of the Mayor's house.

(Final Warning: Once Again, Sections of Graphic Depictions of Violence Await Past This Point. You have been warned for the last time.)

Mohji glared at Chouchou who barked defiantly at him and his lion who ignored the mutt in favor of getting some food from the store. "I am beast master Mohji, you mangy mutt. Obey me like all beasts before!" Mohji commanded, thrusting his hand out a confident smirk accompanying his glare. Instead of obeying however Chouchou leapt and bit his outstretched hand.

"AH! GET OFF! THAT HURTS YOU STUPID MUTT!" Punching the dog away, Chouchou yelped in pain before getting up and biting Richie on his back leg. The lion roared in pain before looking back and swiping the poor pupper away, sending the dog crashing into the ground. Crashing on the ground the dog whimpered in pain, struggling to stand back up, memories of his beloved owner flowing through his mind.

"This bag is too big for you, Chouchou!" Hocker chuckled, smiling endearingly at his beloved puppy who tried to help drag a bag similar to one he'd brought around the shop earlier.

Chouchou leapt and bit Richie again, the lion roaring in pain and anger.

"You don't want to get hurt, Chouchou!" Hocker said laughing fondly as he held the puppy up who'd gotten dizzy trying to push the cart as well only to be sent flying.

Chouchou barked defiantly now standing between the lion and his only connection to his beloved owner.

"Bad Chouchou! I told you not to eat the merchandise!" Hocker reprimanded… before grinning as he took out a large platter of cooked meat. "Now let's chow down!" Both human and dog chewing on a tender, juicy stick of meat.

Chouchou was sent hurtling into the roof of a building, colliding with the resounding crack of ribs. Still he ran to stand between Richie and the shop.

"Chouchou. I'm getting up in age now. I gotta check into the hospital. But I will get better! Guard the shop well until I come back!" Chouchou barked in confirmation to Hocker's request. "Hold down the fort!" Hocker's face flashed smiling widely at the pupper. Chouchou growled covered in his own blood at the lion before he leapt towards Richie. The lion swiped down towards the dog once again planning to end it once and for all only for a chill to go up its spine. Suddenly a man stood in between Richie and Chouchou, in his right hand he held Richie's paw which he stopped from descending further, in his left hand he held Chouchou who bit into it before realizing who he had bit into. Loosening his bite, Chouchou slowly returned to the ground, Luffy lowering his hand so the dog wouldn't just fall painfully. "You did good, little one. Let me handle the rest." Luffy said softly, giving the dog an encouraging smile. The dog promptly gave a noise of affirmation before lying down and passing out, adrenaline having worn off now that Luffy arrived.

"That straw hat… you're the one who came looking for the captain aren't you?!" Mohji accused, pointing at Luffy who kept silent still holding Richie's arm, the lion remained frozen like a deer caught in the headlights. "I AM MOHJI, THE BEST MASTER AND VICE CAPTAIN OF THE BUGGY PIRATES, YOU WILL ANSWER ME!" Mohji screamed before Richie whimpered and shook around hoping to stop his owner from aggravating the monster they'd just summoned, his instincts screaming at him to run and never stop. "R-Richie! What the hell's the matter with you?!" Mohji cried as he struggled to remain atop his lion.

"Chi o Abita" Mohji stared in shock as the man wearing a straw hat suddenly grew from 6 foot to 9 feet and 5 inches tall, a pair of wolf ears popping out pushing his straw hat onto his back. "D-D-DEVIL FRUIT?!"

Luffy's golden eyes turned to regard the Vice Captain of the Buggy Pirates and his pet lion with a cold glare that promised a world of pain. A promise he promptly kept as he threw Richie against an abandoned home down the street far away from the pet shop, subsequently sending Mohji crashing down from where he once sat. "I'll do to you, what you've done to this town, what you've done to Chouchou." Luffy took his coat off and covered the body of the bloody dog in it as the poor thing shivered when the winds blew.

"Muimina dai-" Luffy's arms morphed into claws, black flames erupting from them like a raging inferno. "Gyakusatsu." Luffy's vision becomes black and white save for two red forms, one a man with a strange hair style sweating bullets wondering what he'd just gotten himself into, the other a large feline that cowered in fear as Luffy phased right in front of him, left hand raised. "Shi ne"

From these yelps of pain filled the sky as Luffy mercilessly slashed, punctured, beat, and tossed the large lion around, Mohji watching in horror as his pet and best friend was being trashed like a ragdoll. "STOP! YOU'RE HURTING HIM! DON'T YOU HAVE A CONSCIENCE?!" Mohji cried causing Luffy to stop what felt like hours of torture. It had been two minutes. Luffy looked up from the lion's bloody battered form, bones poking out from odd angles and lacerations all around him, to the Vice Captain. "HE'S JUST A PET FOR GOD'S SAKES, YOU MONSTER!"

Phasing to stand directly in front of the smaller man Luffy just tilted his head as he looked down, his ears tilting to the side as well making for a rather adorable expression if not for the blood splashed on his face and dripping from his arms. As he was now, the innocent mystified expression on the bloody man just made him look like a psychopath. "You didn't care when you were attacking Chouchou. It doesn't seem like you cared what you did to her and any other villager that didn't get away from your clutches either." Luffy said as he turned to a lone corpse of a woman with multiple stab wounds. 'Looks like Mayor Boodle and the other villagers didn't find her.'

Mohji made a noise like a strangled noise, recoiling as if struck before he shouted back. "SO WHAT?! THEY'RE NOTHING MORE THAN STEPPING STONES TOWARDS OUR CAPTAIN'S ASCENSION AS KING OF THE PIRATES!" A claw reached up and pushed his cheeks together, coating them with blood, making Mohji's lips pucker. "A stepping stone, huh…" Mohji shivered disturbed and terrified of Luffy who still had an innocent childlike expression, wolf ears tilted adorably. "Guess I take the second step myself." Mohji blinked confused by the statement before pain racked through his body, Luffy's other hand now embedded right underneath his sternum. "AGH!" Mohji cried in pain as he was lifted off the ground by the foreign appendage, his eyes clenched in agony as Luffy raised him above his head only to be dragged across the ground, face first, through the streets as Luffy ran towards the nearest building and destroying its wall with Mohji's body.

"M-m-mercy?" Raising his hand towards Luffy remorsefully only to hear, "Fresh out." and his head snapped backwards when Luffy delivered a roundhouse kick to the man's already shredded face, cuts and scrapes now commonplace. "Uuuuugh" Mohji groaned, losing consciousness, his eyes slowly rolling to the back of his head before clarity returned as he screamed, his left leg's tibia snapped by a savage calf kick from Luffy who's leg shimmered with luminescence. Following up with an axe kick to the downed man's right leg dislocating it at the knee. Mohji tried to scream again but Luffy clutched the Vice Captain's face with a vice-like grip lifting him up before slamming him down onto the building's stone floor, cracks spider webbing outwards from where Mohji's head was embedded still in Luffy's hand. Picking the broken mess of a man up once more Luffy began his trek back to the pet shop, picking up the lion who had lost consciousness along the way.

Nami, Zoro and Mayor Boodle reached the Pet Shop in record time once the Mayor had been awakened. Fear for the lovable canine's safety pushed him to run faster than he thinks he ever ran before, Nami and Zoro not far behind, the latter bringing a first aid kit. Collectively all three of their hearts stopped seeing the blood splashed around the ground, store and even on a roof from one of the neighboring houses, a familiar black and gold coat covering a small form.

"CHOUCHOU!" Mayor Boodle kneeled in front of the coat and lifted it to see Chouchou's poor state, coat soaked in its own blood from laceration wounds on his side, some even dribbling out the canine's mouth and snout. Nami's hands flew up to her face, her eyes filled with horror watching the sweet little dog's current state. Zoro's form shook briefly as he was filled with unbridled rage but suppressed his urge to find whoever did this in favor of opening the first aid kit and helping the older man patch the pooch up.

"Chouchou, please stay with us! Stay with me! You can't die like this! Please hang on, I beg of you!" The Mayor cried as he worked, hands flying as he disinfected wounds with betadine, stitching and closing them with a sewing kit and washing the dog with a wet cloth, Nami, having broken out of her stupor, filled a bucket with water for the Mayor to be able to do so. After some time cleaning the dog's coat and face, Chouchou opened his eyes and whimpered affectionately towards the three of them. Mayor Boodle's face cascaded with tears as he brought the dog into an embrace, Chouchou licking the old man's face. Nami's own face wasn't much different as she sat down by the pet store's steps, now wearing Luffy's coat around herself after cleaning the blood off it, watching the heartwarming scene. Zoro sighed in relief and plopped down next to her.

"... I don't know about you but I'm tearing whoever did this a new one."

"Not if I get to him first." Nami glared at Zoro defiantly but with a smirk, the swordsman grinned before he smelled his Captain's scent coming closer, along with two unknowns. 'Actually now that I notice it, it's kind of lingering here as well…' Soon Luffy came into view as he walked out of an alleyway carrying something big over his shoulder and dragging a man by his hair.

"Looks like we're too late." Zoro said, gesturing towards Luffy with a nod. Nami froze seeing the blood before she darted towards Luffy. "What happened?! Did they cut you anywhere?! Are you hurt?!" Blinking at the rapidfire questions about his health Luffy just stood still as Nami's hand moved around inspecting his body for wounds. Luffy looked to Zoro silently pleading 'What the fuck do I do in this situation?!' Unfortunately his first mate seemed as lost as he was, only offering a shrug in response as he and the Mayor, still holding Chouchou, approached Luffy. The mayor's eyes now also filled with concern for the man, not registering his new height.

"I'm fine guys. It isn't even my blood." Luffy let go of Mohji's face briefly to switch his hold to the man's hair, lifting him to show a shredded face oozing with blood from cuts and scrapes. "Meet Mohji, Vice Captain of the Buggy Pirates and one of the parties involved with Chouchou as well as the murder of many unfortunate villagers who didn't evacuate in time." Whatever sympathy or pity Mohji could have possibly gotten were squashed. "And this…" Dropping the lion on the ground, the beast itself was coated with blood and bruises, it's jaw dislocated and eye swollen shut in a sickly shade of yellow and brown. "Is the main contributor to Chouchou's current state. Richie, Mohji's pet lion." Mayor Boodle gave both scum a withering glare but neither were affected as they haven't regained consciousness. Nami discretely licked her lips as fantasies ran wild, imagining if this could happen to that sick bastard plaguing her village, as she was the one at the front no one aside from Luffy saw this but he pretended he didn't. Inwardly he groaned, his attraction for the orange haired woman growing with every interaction they had 'The fact she's wearing my coat right now really isn't helping.' Zoro seemed to analyze the wounds and injuries, as if trying to picture how they were all made, how to deflect or counter attacks that possibly made them. Zoro didn't think for one second that his Captain would attack him or he himself would turn on the man but if this is the kind of brutality Luffy exhibits he'd be a fool to expect opponents down the line wouldn't have similarly savage fighting styles. They could be vastly different, in fact they probably were, but with Luffy as his only point of reference available he could only take what he could get.

"You said you were going to send Buggy packing right, kid?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Take me with you." Luffy, Nami, Zoro and even Chouchou stared at the Mayor incredulously but the man wasn't affected, too clouded in rage. "I'm pathetic! Chouchou and you have fought so hard, yet I, the Mayor, sit by and watch our town be obliterated?!"

"Oi, oi calm down old man" Zoro said trying to placate the old man. Fighting for what you believe in and are passionate about he could get but this was suicide, the guy wasn't anywhere close to being young enough or fit enough to pick a fight with pirates. Unfortunately, the Mayor wasn't listening. 'Oh boy, here comes another monologue and background story' Luffy thought with a sigh accepting his fate to sit through another one of these.

"40 years ago, this place was nothing but barren land. We all worked together to clear the land, make fields, open stores, and build our town. This town is a treasure to me and all the citizens! I cannot let them domineer over it any more!" '... oh wait that's it?' Luffy blinked in surprise. 'Lot shorter than I thought it was gonna be.'

Luffy shook his head before giving a half-hearted karate chop on the old man's head, the kind family members would give to a rowdy child, "Mayor Boodle… You can come but you're certainly not partaking in the fight."

The Mayor looked like he was going to protest but Luffy just released a pulse of Conqueror's to end the conversation. Of course the Mayor it just looked like a very intimidating glance with the clear message 'Take it or leave it' in the Wolfman's eyes. 'Wait wolf-'

"AH! YOU HAVE WOLF EARS!" Nami and Zoro slapped the comic bubble of surprise practically radiating off the elder, sweatdropping "You just realized?"

"Shishishishishi!" Luffy chuckled to himself not noticing that because he wasn't wearing his coat his tail instinctually popped out and began wagging in delight.

Everyone else on the other hand did notice. "Uh Captain?" Zoro

"Mmm? What's up Zoro?" Oblivious of the embarrassing display he was showcasing, Luffy continued grinning ear to ear. It was only when Nami muttered something about him being freaking adorable that he began to sweat and his grin dipped. "... It popped out didn't it?"

"Yep."

"... Embarrassing as well right?"

"Oh yeah."

Luffy buried his face in his hands as he flushed, not really helping the situation as his tail still wagged though pointing downwards now, his ears REALLY not helping by flattening towards the side. Nami couldn't hold it back anymore and just started petting him, now standing by his side trying to console him that it wasn't embarrassing but cute.

"Oh dear god kill me now."

Zoro laughed at his Captain's expense, Chouchou and the Mayor joining in. The mood became light and playful as if there wasn't a broken mess of a man with a dislocated leg, shattered tibia, shredded face and hole underneath his sternum, a large lion in an equally poor state. Nami didn't even seem to find the blood on Luffy disturbing, too caught up in enjoying the flustered expression she'd never seen on the usually calm and stoic or infectiously cheerful man's face.

LUFFY'S POV

Walking towards Buggy's ship, still in my Bathed in Blood form, I carried the two bloody heaps that were Mohji and Richie. You'd think that'd be enough to put Nami off from still seeing me as 'an adorable overgrown puppy' but Noooooo! I grumbled small curses under my breath as Nami now poked and scratched my ears and tail affectionately from time to time, Zoro and the Mayor failing to suppress their amusement as they snorted from time to time. To make matters worse, whatever pedestal I used to be on in Zoro's mind, built out of admiration, fear, or respect, crumbled when I gave in to Nami's pouty face and let my ears and tail pop back out. I could practically hear the 'Whipped' comment going through his head.

'Oh God I need to make sure Shanks never hears about this.' I paled already imagining the endless teasing that would ensue if word of this ever came to his knowledge.

"Nami… please stop. We're almost there." At this point, Buggy's pirate ship was only a few minutes away and I wasn't really keen on the idea of them seeing something like this. Pouting with her cheeks puffed up adorably I had to bite the inside of my cheek so I wouldn't fall victim to it again and just glared back at Nami. Huffing, she backed off but I got the feeling as soon as we we're done here I may have to deal with her fawning all over again.

I watched impassively as someone on the ship noticed us approaching and began screaming for someone to get their captain. Soon enough, a man fitting the description Shanks gave of his old friend came to the side of the ship, big red nose in all its ridiculous glory, shining in the afternoon sun. Having stopped a little ways away from the ship, I flung Richie towards them, his body rolling on the ground before coming to a stop by the ship's side, and held up Mohji's bruised and battered body by his strange fluffy shirt, now red instead of white, for all the Buggy Pirates to see. Screams of horror and outrage filling the air, Buggy seething at the sight.

"You know I expected more from someone Shanks talked about a lot." I called out to Buggy as I sent Mohji crashing into the ground in a crumpled heap not far from the purple maned lion. Buggy paused at the statement before his eyes landed on my straw hat. His eyes bugged out before he grit his teeth and began barking orders out to his men. "BOYS! PREPARE THE BUGGY BALL! WE'RE SHOWING THIS BASTARD WHY WE'RE GOING TO BE THE ONES CONQUERING THE GRAND LINE!" Roars of approval from the crew filled the air as they ran to point a cannon towards me and the others. "I'll send Shanks your remains brat! THAT'LL BE MY VENGEANCE FOR THE CURSE HE CAST ON ME!"

'Curse? Dad never mentioned anything about a…' "You're seriously still carrying a grudge about that?" I sweatdropped at the older man's pettiness over the accident. Buggy's glare narrowed. "Oh? So you know what that bastard did?"

"It sounds like it was an accident… if not completely your own fault." That certainly didn't seem to sit well with the older Captain who roared profanities with pure white eyes and shark teeth, flames of anger bursting out of him. "Wait what happened?" Nami asked but I just told her I'd share the story another time as Buggy lit a match. "BEHOLD BOY! THE POWER THAT WILL CONQUER THE GRAND LINE! DIE FLASHILY TO MY BUGGY BALL!"

The Mayor paled, "AH I FORGOT ABOUT THAT! WE NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE! THAT THING IS THE SPECIAL CANNON BALL THEY USE TO TAKE OUT WHOLE SECTIONS OF THE TOWN!" That got Nami's attention as she grabbed the old man by his vest and started shaking him around with shark teeth.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING EARLIER!"

"It'll be fine Nami. Trust me." I turned to Zoro and asked him to let me deal with it. Nodding Zoro relaxed his stance and silently watched.

"THIS ISN'T ANOTHER MOLOTOV LUFFY! IT'S A FREAKING-" The world lit up as the cannonball was fired, Nami and Mayor Boodle clenched their eyes thinking this was where it would end while Zoro, who hadn't, widened his eyes and grin as I caught the red sphere bearing the Buggy Pirates Jolly Roger in my bare hand. A few moments of silence passed as the pirates aboard the ship could only gawk in stupor while the Mayor and Nami opened their eyes hesitantly, wondering why nothing seemed to have changed. "Cannon..ball?"

"Yeah… This brings back memories of playing catch the cannonball with Gramps…"

"Catch the WHAT?!" Nami cried in shock as Zoro just laughed at the still stupefied pirates. "Personally I would've sliced the thing, but since that would have still meant the two halves crashing and possibly exploding behind us I'm guessing you already knew that." My cheeky grin was all the confirmation Zoro needed as he shook his head in amusement. Breaking out of his stupor, Buggy actually began sweating as he grit his teeth. 'Looks like he plans on turning tail and running… well I can't have that now can I?'

"HEY! I THOUGHT YOU WERE A CAPTAIN WHO WAS GOING TO MAKE IT BIG ON THE GRAND LINE!" My grin widened as I uttered the words dad said always triggered Buggy. "BIG NOSE!"

And just like that the crew on board Buggy's vessel paled and their eyes darted nervously to their captain who turned beet red. "WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT MY NOSE YOU BASTARD!"

"SORU!" Teleporting onto the ship's deck, I released a wave of Conqueror's haki to knock out all the extras, the end of my smile twitching upwards at Buggy who's face paled once again. "Recognize it Buggy? Shanks told me your former captain had the power of conquerors too."

Buggy glared before flicking his hands, throwing knives popping in-between each finger and pointing his shoes up as blades popped out of their outsoles. "Chop-Chop Buzzsaw!" Buggy's upper body levitated above the ground as his lower body spun towards me, spinning like the attack implied. I jumped up to avoid it. "Can't move in midair, can you?!" I just smirked as he threw his blades at me. "Geppo!" kicking the air I moved out of the blade's path. "Sure about that?"

"CHEEKY BRAT! CHOP- CHOP CANNON!" Flicking his hands once more, another set of throwings knives was brought out, Buggy's fist launched towards Luffy who just turned his head out the way before a feeling of dread settled in his stomach at Buggy's expression before hearing the sound of a tear. Looking to the side I see Buggy had changed the direction of his attack slightly so he could hit my straw hat. "You…" Gritting my teeth, veins bulge on my neck as my face contorts in fury. "How dare you damage this hat!"

"Hoho? Based on your reaction, that really must be that red-haired bastard's hat."

"THIS IS MY TREASURE YOU RED NOSED FREAK!"

"WHAT WAS THAT YOU BRAT! CHOP-CHOP FESTIVAL!"

"OU NO KOUKA!" Luffy's body glowed a silvery luminescence as if he had bathed in moonlight as Buggy's body separated into multiple flying parts all circling Luffy save for his feet which remained planted on the ground. The battle ensued as Buggy's divided body parts rushed towards Luffy who just narrowed his eyes towards Buggy's head hovering outside the ring. "DIE BRAT!"

Unamused by the frankly pathetic power the enemy captain seemed so proud of, Luffy flashed above Buggy's head with his left arm cocked back, a black sheen spreading across it. "Armament." Luffy muttered to himself before bringing his fist down on Buggy's head which was looking left and right for the missing wolfman. Just seconds before the fist came into contact with his head Buggy exclaimed in realization, "AH! YOU ATE A WOLF DEVIL FRUIT?!"

Back on the docks Nami, Zoro and the Mayor fell on the floor. "NOW YOU REALIZE?!" Luffy was too pissed about his hat to even register it took Buggy till that moment that he was also a devil fruit user. Slamming into the blue haired captain's head waves of energy dispersed inside disrupting and damaging the man's brain waves before the head was sent plummeting down into docks, making a crater as it landed. Unconscious, the levitating divisions of Buggy's body fell onto the deck lifelessly. 'He won't be waking up for a long time.' Luffy landed on the ship returning to his normal height with a disappointed sigh. "Damn it." I brought my hat out to inspect the damage. 'Looks like it can be sewed up at least.' I thought bitterly as Nami called out to me if it was ok to board the ship yet.

"Yeah! It's all clear!" Soon Nami, Zoro and Mayor Boodle came aboard the ship as I started picking up Buggy's various body parts and tossed them into a bag. "What are you doing?"

"While I doubt Buggy will be waking up any time soon I figured it's better to not leave it up to chance." I explained to the Mayor as Nami gave me a once over to check for wounds before going to probably loot the ship. "Wise choice." The elder commented before looking up to the sound of barking and yelling.

"MAYOR BOODLE?!"

"MAYOR, WHERE ARE YOU?!"

"MAYOOOOOR?!"

The Mayor and I walked to the front of the ship as a crowd of what I assume were the evacuated villagers, led by Chouchou arrived. The lovable pooch ran aboard the ship followed by the villagers who carried faces of shock and confusion having seen the state of the ship as well as the Pirate Captain's head resting in a crater on the port. "Mayor Boodle?! What's going on?!"

"Calm down, calm down everyone. I'll explain everything, so just settle down." I turned to Zoro. "Keep the Mayor company and deal with any Buggy Pirate who wakes up or comes looking. I smell a few lingering scents of pirates who aren't on board." Nodding Zoro walked to the side of the ship to keep watch. I left the Mayor to continue sharing the events of the day and went into the ship to look for Nami.

NAMI'S POV

Seeing no new wounds on Luffy and the Buggy Pirates on deck incapacitated with foam coming out of their mouths I moved to inspect how much I'd get out from this venture. My thoughts wandered to Luffy, as I walked into the treasure room, a single pirate passed out on the floor with a bottle in his hands. 'Luffy's definitely strong. He defeated Alvida, that Marine Captain back in Shell's Town, Morgan, and he just beat the Buggy Pirates Captain and Vice Captain on the same day without a scratch. Aside from that tear on his hat.' I lit up the alcohol lamp and smiled at the large hoard the Buggy Pirates amassed, picking out a golden crown with gems and jewels adorning it, I placed it on my head. "Hehe, and it's all mine for the taking."

I froze slightly hearing the sound of a sword being drawn. "What're you doing with our treasure, now?!" 'Crap! He woke up!' "By Captain Buggy's orders, anyone who gets near here is to be–" The clearly still drunken pirate paused and looked at his bottle shaking it and realizing it was empty. "Huh? I'm all out?!" By now I was standing up and facing him and moved to try tricking him with some feminine charm. "It hurts!" I yelped in fake agony, kneeling arms clutched to my chest. "W-what?! What's wrong?"

"My chest suddenly started to hurt…" I whimpered in pain again, turning to the side slightly. 'All right now my girls are right in his line of sight.' "What?! Your chest?!" A lecherous grin made its way up his face and I moved to deal with him only for the pirate to be thrown to the side and out the ship from a now human sized hole, the late afternoon sun's rays lightening up the room. A pissed off looking Luffy glaring towards it before he shifted his eyes at me, less angry but still annoyed. "Do you flirt like that often?"

At first I was offended before I noticed something strange in the way he said it, it almost sounded like… "Are you jealous?" I asked incredulously as Luffy looked like he'd been caught red handed stealing some food, I caught Luffy discreetly trying to take some of the preservatives on the ship, before he huffed and turned away pouting childishly, tail sticking up defiantly and ears pointing upwards crossing his arms.. I stared for a few seconds before giggling. 'A smart powerful wolf one second, a petulant adorable puppy the next.'

"Aw, is the big bad wolf jealous?" Walking to stand right in front of him I swayed to the side to get in his face but, as he still refused to face me, he turned to the otherside with closed eyes only opening them once he's already turned completely. This went on for a bit before I just grabbed his face and forced him to look straight at me but he just shut his eyes. 'Lets see how long that lasts.' I trailed a finger from his jawline down to his chin before bringing my face closer to his neck, breathing in his scent. I smirked hearing him grit his teeth, his hands clenching his arms tighter. Taking my finger off his chin I placed on the edge where his chest disappeared underneath his silver dress shirt, pleased seeing him tense up as I moved my palm around his chest, feeling the toned, tight muscles underneath. I vaguely registered him saying my name with a tone clearly signifying a warning but I was too immersed in the man who'd come into my life just a few days ago and flipped my world upside down. He made me see things that shouldn't have been possible, and opened my eyes to possibilities and dreams I wouldn't have ever thought possible before. 'He could be the key to saving everyone from him…' My hand paused as I began to wonder. 'No, Nami. Even if he's strong enough it isn't his problem to deal with. He hasn't even known you for more than a few days. You can't take advantage of him like this.' Berating myself with a scrunched up expression, biting my bottom lip in frustration, I didn't notice Luffy's hand coming towards my face until he pushed my chin up and gently made me face him. His half-lidded eyes studied mine with a contemplative expression, his hand remaining on my chin as his finger brushed against my bottom lip.

"What is it that troubles you, Nami? What is it you desire? What is it that keeps you from joining my side? "

My heart fluttered and I wished I could turn away from him but I couldn't, his half-lidded gaze coaxing the words out of my lips no matter how much I struggled to keep them in.

"My mother was killed by pirates…" I reminded him, his other hand that had remained dormant at his side now resting on my waist, pulling me closer to him. "They never left… they're still there in my home. They still walk on the ground where they spilled my mother's blood, where my sister, friends and neighbors all live on. They still terrorize and control them to this day…" Tears started falling but I didn't care to stop them. "They made me a deal to free my village… A deal I took when I was ten just days from when they shot my mother in front of me… A deal to pay them 100, 000, 000 Belli for my village's freedom…" Luffy never once turned away from me as I spilled the emotions I kept bottled up all these years. "I've stolen from pirates, marines, corrupt nobles… I flirted and seduced countless men into my trap to take from them as well, Luffy I've done everything short of murder and selling my own body to reach this far… and I'm so close but…" I choked a sob as I buried my face in his chest, staining his silver shirt in my tears.

"But what Nami?" Luffy asked me, gently stroking my back to comfort me, his other hand still resting on my waist securing me in front of him. "But I don't want to give him anything! I know he isn't going to honor his end of the deal somehow! I don't know how, but I know he will!" I spat venomously, picturing the bastard already standing over her with his horrifying teeth and infuriating laugh. 'You'll never be free my little kitten. Never. SHASHASHASHASHA!'

"... So he's the only thing keeping you from being mine?" My breath caught in my throat. Despite the tears and despair that came with letting my memories and emotions flow out for the first time in years, I couldn't help the warm feeling sparking in my chest from his words. I tried to make my mouth work, to say yes, that if he weren't there I would be his, I would be by his side, his till the end of time. I felt his hand leave my back as it raised my chin from his chest to face him again, golden irises and black sclera looked back at me through his hooded eyes as he asked me a slightly different version of the question. "If I kill him, will you be mine? My navigator…" .He leaned down to me, face now just millimeters away from my own, his lips tantalizingly close. "My confidant…" his other hand now resting on the other side of my waist, before both hands travelled downwards, hovering the back of my thighs before lifting me up. "My partner…" I was forced to grab onto his shoulders so I wouldn't fall as he spun the both of us around before he lay on the treasures which gleamed in the setting sun's light, making him even more enticing than he already was. "My Queen?"

Luffy sat against the treasure, my legs straddling him underneath me, my hands resting on his shoulders, his hands resting on my waist, my face now hovering over his still dangerously close. My heart pounded against my chest, and my eyes searched for any semblance of deceit but they found none, my brain struggled to find any reason for what angle he could be playing but came up empty. Finding no nothing in him, I looked back at myself, is this what I wanted, is this what I desired? 'Yes… yes it is…' My own eyes hooded as I brought our faces even closer together, my hands leaving his shoulders to grasp his dress shirt and pull him up from the pile. "Yes, Luffy." Luffy's face broke into a grin as his hands left my waist and came to rest on my plump cheeks. "Kill him and I will be yours forevermore, My King~" In the setting sun's light I kissed the man who will forever be mine, and I his.