Ace followed his brother onto the roof. He knew when something was bothering the blonde.
He hadn't said anything when he got back last night. Ace had only woken up because the bed shifted when Sabo put Luffy back besides him, their little brother fast asleep. Ace had fallen back asleep after that just assuming that the vampire was going to go to bed as well but when he had woken up this morning Sabo's bed was empty and unslept in.
He crawled from their bedroom window to the top of the roof where the blonde sat looking out over the forest.
"Sabo?"
"Hunters," He told him.
"What?" Ace scanned the tree tops below them. "Where?"
"Out there somewhere. I can smell them."
Ace sniffed the air as well catching the feint scent of human. They were close. "Hunters don't come here." It was too far out of their way."
"They do now?" Sabo growled and Ace realized there was more he wasn't telling him.
"And?"
"And we should go check it out. We have no idea what they are doing here."
"And?" Ace tried again.
Sabo sighed as he turned to face Ace. "And one of them ran into Luffy last night. I think they knew him." Seeing Ace's face he quickly added, "Don't worry I took care of it. But they might be trying to track him."
"Or they might go tell their boss about it." Ace said with a growl. Over his dead body would he give Luffy back to that psycho Dragon. "Let's go!"
"No I go, you stay here."
"Like hell I will."
Sabo sighed as they climbed back in through the window. "Ace don't argue you are hurt. Plus when it comes to hunters Luffy is a flight risk he can't come with us."
"Big deal he can stay here then."
"Yea and get another night terror and run off again while we are gone?"
Ace looked around their tiny room. He dug out a shoe lace from the closet and used it to tie Luffy's wrist loosely to the head board. Luffy shifted as he did so but didn't wake up. Ace had always believed that the human could sleep through a hurricane.
"There now let's go. We will be back before he even wakes up." They both lifted their heads at the sounds of a shot gun nearby.
"Sometime today maybe?" Ace said with a grin and Sabo sighed.
"Just take it easy idiot. I told you yesterday not to tear your stiches again."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Ace promised as he pulled him downstairs to investigate.
Unbeknownst to them they were being watched. Arguably one of the best hunters of his time sat in a large pine tree concealed from view. Yet he had heard everything they had discussed while on the roof. His scent was well concealed with a few token tricks of the trade.
Well his crew drew the two monsters away he would rescue Anchor and be out of here before they even realized what had happened. He trusted his team to do their part, now he would do his.
XXX
Luffy groaned as his shoulder was shook. He pressed his face further into the pillow with a moan.
"g'way ce."
"Luffy get up," a voice whispered in his ear.
"Five more minutes." He whined. However the little teenager quickly came to regret that as he felt himself being lifted up slightly before being dropped again.
Luffy gave a small yelp of surprise as he shot up. He realized two things very quickly. One that his right wrist was tied loosely to the bed and two, whoever woke him up wasn't Sabo or Ace.
He opened his mouth to yell but a hand closed around it tightly.
"Shhh, don't scream Luffy it's okay." A vaguely familiar voice comforted.
Luffy took the words to heart. He had been having a good dream right before being rudely awakened to a situation he didn't understand. He didn't feel like screaming at all anymore. Rather he felt pissed. His teeth chomped down on the innocent hand as hard as he could manage.
The reaction was instant. The hand over his mouth disappeared with a string of creative swears.
"Fucking hell! What are those things made out of?"
He had heard that voice before there was no question. He had also been on the receiving end of that swear before.
"Shanks?'
Even in the dim light of the loft Luffy cold see the surprise on the man's face as he looked up, hand still closed around the bite. His face looked as surprised as Luffy felt inside. He had no idea what was going on, or if he was still dreaming. But he didn't care.
He launched himself at the man, wrapping his arms around his shoulders, much broader then the last time they had met, and buried his head in the man's shoulder. Still reeling from the shock Shanks wrapped his arms around Luffy in return but pulled him away a few seconds later.
"You came back!" Luffy said happily.
"Wait kid you recognize me?"
Luffy nodded happily feeling his chest burst with joy that his oldest friend was back. He had begun to believe he would never see the man again.
"It took me a second."
"But you recognize me!"
"Of course!" He repeated but the man only looked confused by that. By the whole situation actually. His confusion was starting to rub off on Luffy.
"What are you doing here?" Luffy looked around for his brothers. It wasn't like them to let people they didn't know into the house and not tell him.
"Saving you of course," Shanks said smiling through his worry. "I promised I would come back for you didn't I Anchor?"
Luffy giggled as he pulled the man in for another hug. This time Shanks returned it with a stronger one of his own.
"You gave me a big scare there kid. I thought I lost you."
"I'm not lost I'm right here," Luffy said with a smile.
The smile flickered on the man's face as the look of urgency returned. "Look Luffy we have to go. I don't know how long we have until they get back."
"Go where?" He asked puzzled as the confusion returned.
Shanks shifted from his place beside Luffy to kneel over the bed so they were eyelevel. "It's going to be okay now." He promised as he got up pulling a knife from his belt as he began to saw at the rope that tethered the teenager to the bed.
For his part Luffy had no idea what was happening but he was willing to overlook it in favor of his best friends inexplicable return.
"What do you remember about last night?" Shanks asked him as the now broken rope ends fell to the bed limply.
Luffy tilted his head confused. "I went to bed."
"You don't remember?"
"Remember what?"
"I'll tell you later." Shanks told him scanning the tiny room quietly. "We have to go right now!" His callous hardened hand closed around Luffy's as he pulled him up. Luffy pulled back still just as confused as when he first woke up.
"Go where?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead yet. Just come on. We will figure something out." Shanks tried to pull him along again but Luffy still resisted.
"Can I get dressed first?"
Shanks looked anxiously at the ladder from the loft. He looked like he wanted to argue before he glanced down at Luffy's bare feet. Still full of cuts and bruises from last night.
"Be quick kid. This could get ugly real fast."
"What's going to get ugly?" He asked innocently tracking down his ripped jeans to put them on.
Shanks opened his mouth to respond but stopped as he watched Luffy pull the large red hoodie from a vacant chair and put it on over his shirt.
"You still have it," He said amazed.
"Of course!" Luffy said happily. "I would never throw it away. It's my favorite thing." Whenever he was in need of comfort it was always there for him. Like a giant hug.
"They let you keep it?" Shanks asked as Luffy dug one of his boots out from under the bed.
"Who?"
"The vampires?"
Luffy threw the man a puzzled look as he laced up his boots. He didn't understand Shanks urgency but he tried to hurry none the less assuming there was a good reason.
"What vampire, Sabo?"
"The blonde one?"
"Ohh," Luffy thought back as Shanks pulled him to his feet once more. "He didn't want me too." He had said it looked suspicious if all his clothes but the hoodie were recovered. But Luffy would never let them take his treasure. He put up such a fight eventually both his brothers let him have his way. "But I wouldn't let them take it away."
Shanks snorted as he ruffled Luffy's hair. "Nice going Anchor."
Luffy beamed back as he followed the man to the ladder as they both began to climb down from the loft where the three boys slept.
When they reached the bottom Shanks radio started making noises. The man riffled around in his pocket for it bringing it up to his mouth. "What's up?"
"Did you get him?" Another familiar voice asked. Luffy straightened as he recognized it as Lucky Roo. Another one of Shanks crew.
"I got him." Shanks agreed. "How is it looking out there?"
"Not good boss." "We lost them."
"What do you mean you lost them?"
"We were tracking them but I think they realized we were on to them. They were there one second and the next… they were just gone. They might be circling back there."
Shanks cussed to himself before replying. "Did you see any of the other coven members?"
"No boss. It was just the two of them so far."
Shanks ran his hands through his hair. "Alright that's good for now. But where there is one there is more of them waiting in the dark."
"Want us to head over and give you back up in case they turn up?"
Shanks looked at Luffy, who returned his gaze curiously. "No, this is a rescue mission only. We can come back for them later. For now I got him with me. We will meet you guys at the trail head. I'll radio you for help if we run into trouble."
"Rodger that boss." Shanks clipped the radio back to his belt as he retrieved his rifle from his back holding it in one hand and Luffy's wrist in the other.
"Can you tell me how many there are?" He asked seriously glancing out the window.
Luffy followed his gaze wondering what he expected to see out there. It looked like it was about mid-day. Meaning he had slept in really late. Where were his brothers? The confusion was starting to unnerve him. He wished they would come back so he could talk things over with them.
"How may what?" He asked tugging his hand out of the older mans. "Rescuing who? What's going on?"
Shanks sighed again as he squeezed Luffy's shoulder. "We are here for you. I don't have much time to explain. We need to go now. Please kid."
Luffy nodded slowly. "Alright," He agreed. He trusted Shanks after all.
"Just let me write a note really quickly then we can go." He said turning to the kitchen.
"What?" Shanks followed Luffy into the shoebox kitchen. "Write a note to who?"
"Sabo." Luffy told him as he rummaged in the drawer for a pen and some scrap paper. "He gets mad when I disappear without telling him where I'm going." Which Luffy did all the time? Usually he wouldn't bother. It always worked itself out anyways. But this time something was bothering him. He wasn't sure how long he was going to be gone or what Shanks wanted him for. And considering everything going on lately Luffy thought they would appreciate it. Or at the very least not yell at him when he came back.
Shanks however did not look comforted as he grabbed the pen away from Luffy before he even finished the first word.
"The vampire? You're leaving him a note!"
"I'll get in trouble otherwise." Luffy argued trying to grab the pen back.
"Luffy we are going to protect you from them. You won't be in trouble anymore."
"Protect me from what? Doing the dishes?" He briefly wondered if Shanks was offering to take the punishment in his place. Knowing Sabo it would be chores.
"What?" The man asked confused.
"What?" Luffy returned equally confused. He grabbed the pen back from the man and began to write out a message for his brothers.
Shanks is back!
I'm going to go with him and his friends for a bit.
I'll be back in-
Luffy was just writing the last few lines when Shanks once again grabbed the paper away from him reading it once before crumpling it up.
Before he could protest the man knelt before him putting his hand on his shoulder. "Kid you can't leave this."
"Why not?"
Shanks let out a low sigh. "I was afraid of this?"
"Of what?"
He moved suddenly and quickly. Luffy yelped as he was pulled from the nice stable ground to over the man's broad shoulders.
"Sorry Luffy," Shanks apologized. "You will understand later. This is for your own good."
For his part Luffy was unsatisfied with that answer. He wanted to know why he couldn't tell his brothers where he was now. His out stretched fingertips reached to grab anything he could as the man carried him towards the door.
"Stop it!" Luffy said annoyed as he tried to kick the red head.
"Hold still Anchor!"
"Let me DOWN!" Luffy's hands scrabbled latching on the doorframe as Shanks huffed in annoyance.
"Luffy I'm trying to save you."
"From what?" He asked as he gave another rough kick as he used to doorframe to pull forwards. He was able to tumble out of the man's arms. But a few seconds later strong arms closed around his waist and started dragging him backwards.
"Stop making this difficult. They could be back any second."
"Who is THEY?"
"The vampires."
Luffy tried to break his hold but he was too strong. Was he talking about Sabo? He thought so. But Sabo was the only vampire in these parts. He trusted his friend. He really did. As a kid Shanks was the only one who protected and believed him. Even after all these years that would never change. But if he was going to go somewhere he wanted to go there voluntarily. He had enough of being forced places to last a lifetime. Although it was starting to look like he might not have a choice. The man was stronger than him for sure. Shanks was one of the strongest people Luffy knew.
"Let him go!"
The impossibly cold voice echoed from the front door catching both of their attentions.
"Guys your back!" Luffy said in excitement at the sight of the two of his brothers. Only they didn't look happy to see him. All their attention was fixed on Shanks with murderous intent.
"Let him go right now!" Ace growled.
That wasn't good. Luffy wiggled in Shanks arms trying to encourage the man to do just that. And he did. He pushed Luffy behind him never taking his eyes off the two of them.
"Luffy RUN! Get out of here." Shanks instructed as he reached for the stake concealed in his jacket. But Luffy was way more concerned about the weapon then getting away.
As the two boys charged towards them Luffy grabbed the stake trying to tear it way from the man. But Shanks was quicker tossing the stake agilely to his other hand as he used the right to push Luffy to the side and out of harm's way. But Luffy would not be dissuaded, he ducked below the arm once again putting himself between his brothers and friend.
"Stop it!" He cried putting his arms out between them.
"Luffy what are you doing?" Ace asked irritated as he grabbed Luffy around the middle and hauled him out of the way.
"He's my friend!" Luffy yelled back in annoyance as he watched Shanks duck Ace's broad swing and return one of his own with the stake.
"Luffy he is a hunter," Sabo told him pulling him back from another attempt at getting between them. "The one from last night." Sabo told Ace who grunted in reply as he ducked another attack. Strong as he was he was still in no shape to be fighting.
Sabo moved to help but Luffy caught his arm.
"Sabo please stop them!"
Sabo pulled his arm back staring at his little brother like he had sprouted a second head.
"He's a hunter Lu, he was trying to hurt you. He is going to hurt Ace."
"Not if stop them! He's not just a hunter he's Shanks."
Luffy knew for a fact the name registered with Sabo. Luffy wouldn't shut up about him when they were kids. Sabo paused for a second at the name but after another pained grunt from Ace he made up his mind.
"We can't trust him," he decided turning to help their brother.
Luffy clenched his fists feeling anger at being brushed off replacing his worry. Like hell he was going to let his family and friends hurt each other in the name of 'protecting him.'
He grabbed his bat from its place against the wall before rejoining to fight. Taking care to insert himself between the two groups. He held his bat to the red haired hunter in case he tried to grab him again and fixed his brothers with a stare.
"Get out of the way!" Ace told him.
"Not helping anchor!"
"Sabo stop them!" Luffy tried to reason with the most logical of the three. Once again his older brother paused.
The other two were less convinced however. In efforts to get Luffy out of harm's way Shanks yanked the bat away from his distracted hand and hauled him to the side. Angered at the contact Ace threw himself at the hunter and they both went down.
Ace managed to land on top as he raised his hand, his claws already out. But Shanks was quicker. In the blink of an eye he pulled a silver flask from his pocket letting the contents pour on the boy.
Ace coughed in surprise as most of the water hit his face. He made a face at the taste.
For his part Shanks was equally surprised. "You're not a vampire?"
"You're not a very good hunter," Ace growled again this time showing his pronounced canine teeth. Sabo came forwards to pull his brother away but Luffy stopped him. He recognized the vial as something that could hurt the vampire. Instead he grabbed Ace's shirt trying to make him stand up and away from the hunter.
"Luffy's right." Sabo said to the two of them although his gaze never left Shank's face.
"You're a wolf," Shanks repeated again still surprised. But he allowed Luffy to tug him away from Ace.
"Why is a vampire and a wolf working together? And while we are at it what do you want with Luffy?"
Ace crossed his arms threateningly despite the age and height difference. "Why don't you start hunter?" He growled.
"Shanks stop it!" Luffy said tugging his weapon down again. "Whatever you're talking about your wrong!" Luffy wasn't quite sure what the man was trying to get at, he had gotten lost in the conversation quite early on but he didn't like the feeling in the air. It was hostile.
Sabo felt it too as he pulled Ace further back from the man, careful not to touch his drenched shirt.
"Lu come here!" He commanded with a rarely used tone.
"But…"
"Now!"
Luffy did as his brother told him, vaguely aware of the surprise in Shank's eyes as he complied. By now he knew better to go against them when they sounded like that. Once he stood alongside his brothers Sabo once again addressed the hunter.
"You want us to talk? Fine let's talk. How about Mr. Shanks tells us what he and his friends are doing in these woods?" His words were polite but his tone was icy.
Shanks raised the stake and Ace growled in response. "I am saving Anchor from you and your boss or whoever it is that orchestrated this."
"There is no boss! And your so called rescue looked a lot like a kidnapping."
"Only because you brainwashed him! And do you really expect me to believe that a vampire and a wolf are working together? And just happen to have the son of the hunter leader, who last time I checked everyone thought was dead! Tell me that's not suspicious."
"Why won't you listen to me!" Luffy argued. "They didn't kidnap me I want to be here. This is where I live."
Shanks sighed again as he shifted his attention back to Luffy. "Kid you don't know what you're saying?"
"I do too! I'm the one saying it."
He pointed the stake at Sabo who glared back at him. "Luffy that boy is a pure blood vampire. He can make you think whatever he wants."
Luffy rolled his eyes, a gesture he had picked up briefly after hitting his teens. "No he can't!"
Ace coughed.
"So what if he can," Luffy tried again shifting tactics. Maybe later when this was over he could try to convince Sabo to make him think he was on the moon. He bet that would be funny. Served him right for not telling Luffy he had super powers. Although to be fair he might have and Luffy just wasn't paying attention. That tended to happen a lot.
"You're being controlled."
"But I'm not!"
"Luffy you were tied to a bed. There is a huge wound on your neck and I'm willing to bet that one bit you and you live in monster infested woods instead of with your own kind. What part of any of that sounds normal?"
"That's my choice!" He argued reaching up to feel the bandage. Except the bed part. He turned to his brothers. "Yea what was that about?"
"You sleep walk Luffy," Sabo told him in a rush. "We've told you this before. We were just making sure it didn't happen again when we while gone."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do." Both brothers told him together.
Deciding this could wait for later Luffy turned back to Shanks. "See!" He said giving the hunter a grin. "Everything's fine."
Shanks raised the stake again.
"Good try anyways Lu." Ace said preparing to fight.
"No!" Luffy said as his annoyance crept back. Sometimes people were stupid. "No body's fighting!"
He turned to his old friend and pointed as his neck. "This is an accident! Nobody is forcing me to stay here. There is no boss. They didn't steal me they saved me. And I live here and not in town because I don't want Dragon to find me. He is crazy and Ace and Sabo are like brothers to me so don't be mean to them!"
Shank's eyes widened at the confession although his attention quickly turned to the wolf.
"Ace? Like Rodgers son Ace?"
XXX
To be continued.
So Shanks is a really good hunter. He was able to circle back and track Sabo to their home. He couldn't identify Ace as a wolf because of his split human wolf DNA that makes him really hard to categorize without seeing his eyes flash. So Shanks just assumed he was a Vampire like Sabo. Which was more realistic then the thought of a vampire and Wolf working together. And if you remember Shanks was Rodgers apprentice when he was working in the town, so he knows of Ace. To be continued next time. I will post chapter 27 as soon as I can.
(Unrelated note) just to answer some questions I have been getting about Luffy. His life actually fell apart while he was still living in the town. They will talk about it next time.
Not too much love for this story anymore :.( So sad since it's my favorite story to write. But since I love it so much you guys are going to have to beg me to stop writing this before I give up on it. Until then I shall keep up the writes
XXX
Guest #1: Thank you
Phayn: Thanks for sticking with it. They really do. Things do get a bit worse before they get better. Thank you for the kind words! More Shanks and Sabo next chapter!
Guest #2: Aww thank you so much. I am really glad you like it that means a lot.
Guest #3: (to answer your question) It gets better but near the end things get really bad for the three of them. But there will always be a happy ending! Maybe
goth-coma-party: Wow you have an awesome name. And thank you that is so sweet. I am really glad you like them.
lostdog200: Yes! That scene from last chapter where they meet for the first time actually took place in Luffy's house. Where he was born the only difference was it kind of fell apart after his mom died. Shanks tried to protect him and take care of him during their friendship. But more on that later. As Always I love your questions.
AnimeAngel2692: Aww thanks. You and you reviews are so awesome. I wish upon you no more bad weeks. I hope you liked the chapter
