Familiar Faces Chapter 4
It was around two in the morning on Hibiscus Island and a certain straw hat boy was still awake. He was perched on Sunny's figure head, just sitting there mulling some things over in his mind.
They had just been sailing along minding their own business when Garp shot out of nowhere and treated them to a meal, which was weird all by its self. Then he goes and gives Luffy a letter from Dragon, Luffy's father that has never spoken to him and handed him off to Garp to be raised, that tells him to go back home. The kid had no idea how to deal with the current situation. He really needed to talk to someone that was like a parental figure or an older brother figure.
Zoro.
He would never actually say it out loud—the crew would probably make jokes-but since he didn't have any brothers left he had latched onto Zoro for support and guidance, even if he wasn't the best influence, all of the drinking and sleeping when he was needed, but he was the one who had been there from the very beginning.
He yawned, deciding that it was probably a good time to sleep. He made his way to the captain's room, fearing that the nightmares would haunt him again tonight.
(line)
Luffy awoke with a start. However it was not a dream that shook him conscious, but Brook poking at his face with his boney hands.
"Luffy, it's time for breakfast." He said in a softer voice than usual. Luffy hated how they treated him now. Even though he wanted some support and comfort he did not need to be treated like a baby! He stopped his internal fussing and noticed that Brook had left. He got dressed and meandered his way to the kitchen, putting on his happy 'mask' as not to worry them.
He entered the kitchen and looked at the people sitting around the table. They saw him walk in and stopped their hushed conversations. "Morning, Luffy!" Usopp said to break the silence.
"Ohayo!" He replied with a sleepy chuckle. Chopper stared at him trying to analyze his conditions.
"You didn't sleep did you!?" The small doctor shouted heatedly.
"No, that's not true I slept for a few hours."
"That's not enough you're SUPPOSED to sleep up to eight hours."
Nami's shrill voice filled the room, "Guys knock it off!" Chopper and Luffy got quite and Luffy sat in his seat at the table. Luffy just laughed and stretched his head towards the stove to see Sanji make the last preparations. Seeing his idiot captain, Sanji, seized the nearest object and hit Luffy over the head with it. The nearest object just so happened to be a frying pan.
Muttering a choice of frequently said swear words he brought the food out and place it ever so graciously in front of the two female crew members, while throwing the rest at the boys who grappled with Luffy for it. "Its omelets today." Sanji said answering Luffy's unsought question.
"Ooooohhhoo!" Luffy said excitedly as he downed the whole omelet in three seconds flat. "Can I have more, Sanji?" The cook replied by throwing a few more omelets in his face. Luffy noted that they were all being far more careful around him than normal, but he didn't indicate it.
Soon breakfast ended and they split up. They didn't have anything that needed to be done urgently so they took this free time to relax.
(line)
Luffy found himself on the swing, but was all by himself so he shouted, "Hey! Usopp. Chopper would you like to play tag?" The quickly ran from wherever they had been and started to chase him.
"Tag, your it!" shouted Chopper as he tapped Usopp on the back. They had been at it for quite some time now, but they were enjoying themselves so no one stopped them.
Zoro was sleeping up against the railing and kept getting stepped on but didn't seem to realize. Sanji was cleaning up in the kitchen with Brook, while the girls were on the upper deck tending to the orange trees and Franky had gone to work on an invention, presumably.
Nami heaved a sigh as she watched the three of them run around like lunatics. "What is bothering you, Navigator-san." Robin said more as a statement than a question. She always seemed to know everything.
"It is really hard to remember that Luffy is just a kid."
"I do not understand. I see him as a kid."
"Well, I do too most of the time, but when there is a fight or when we are involved he gets very serious and can handle the situation well. So to see him like this – helpless and confused- honestly it's worrying."
Robin nodded. "Ah I know what you mean." Nami turned to look at her. "I too feel that way. I am deeply concerned for him."
(line)
"Mina!" Franky shouted as the rest of the crew gathered on the grass of the deck. "We all need to go out shopping for supplies to go on our SUPER trip, guys!"
"Why what else do we need?" Voiced Zoro irritably for he had just been woken from his nap.
"First off," Nami started, "we are going to need a lot of food if we don't want to starve." She ended by jerking her thumb over her shoulder gesturing at Luffy.
"We also need to buy a ton of Cola to power the ship all the way across the calm belt." Franky added. "Sis, can you hand out money so everyone can go out and buys their supplies."
"Sure. Everyone get over here and I will give you your allowance." Once the money was handed out they all agreed that they had to be back in time for Sanji to cook, around six o'clock.
"Has any one seen Traffy today?" asked Luffy. He ran to the side of the ship to see if Law's submarine was still docked next to Sunny-Go. There was a collective sound of 'no' from the crew. Zoro walked up behind him and reached over his shoulder. "What is that?"
"It's a letter from him." Zoro said tossing it to Nami. She looked it over and then began to read it out loud.
"I realize this is a personal matter and that it is one I should not meddle with so I am leaving just for the time being. You can alert me when my presence is needed again. From Law." She made a face.
"Well at least we know he didn't ditch us." Usopp said with a uneasy laugh.
Luffy looked upset. "Aaaww! Traffy is nice though why did he leave he wouldn't have been bothering anyone." Zoro patted him on the back and gave him a reassuring grunt. Sanji shot a look at him and Zoro just shrugged. Luffy's head snapped up so fast if he wasn't made of rubber it would have been broken.
"Hey, Sanji?" said cook turned his head to look at him waiting for a serious question. "When is lunch…? Owww Oww stop!" Nami leaned over from her spot next to Franky and grabbed Luffy's ear. She stretched it out and let it snap back and hit the side of his face. "Why did you do that?" he said while rubbing his abused face.
She just sighed and shouted," Alright everyone has to be back by six. NOW LEAVE!" They all hurried off the boat, but she snatched at Luffy and Zoro's wrist and told them in a threatening tone, "You two have to stay together." She looked at Luffy, "you will be off eating somewhere and won't come back," she turned to Zoro, "and you will get lost."
Zoro sighed loudly and glared at her. Much to Zoro's shock, Luffy gripped his wrist tightly and ran off the boat dragging him along laughing all the way. Nami shook her head, but a small smile spread across her lips.
(line)
Franky approached the bar they had been at the other day and was chased out by the owner, he couldn't remember which one they didn't pay at. He ended up having to walk across the whole island just to find a bar that had the essential amount of Cola.
Zoro had made Luffy come into a sword shop with him. To get Luffy to stop complaining that he was bored Zoro told him he would get him ice cream if he behaved. That got Luffy to shut up and gave the swordsman a few minutes of silence. As soon as he paid and left the store Luffy started to complain again. Zoro had to buy him three ice creams.
Brook went and spent all his money on a new guitar and amp. Robin and Nami spent their money on clothes and books. Usopp and Chopper visited several stores. In all of them Chopper got mobbed and cuddled over by grown women. Sanji had cleaned out most of the outdoor market and bought quite a few more pad locks for the fridge. Luffy had now started to sleep walk, go in the kitchen, break the lock, and eat all the food.
(line)
They all made it back to the ship around the same time. "Look marimo didn't get lost!" Sanji shouted asking for a fight.
"Are you asking for a fight, ERO-COOK?" Zoro screamed back taking his swords and hitting Sanji over the head, well at least he tried to. Luffy started to laugh.
Nami hit both of them. "We are not going to start this! Get inside! Zoro go train. Sanji start cooking." She rounded on Luffy who, upon seeing her face abruptly stopped.
They all went inside and put their purchases in their precise places. Sanji started to cook and the rest of the crew relaxed and lazed about.
(line)
Dinner was on the table and the Straw Hats were enjoying a nice meal. Their minds clear of the worries about their captain. The scene was ruined when they heard a large thumping on the deck. Bandits, Marines, pirates they didn't know who it would be. Luffy put a finger up to his lips, signaling for silence. Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy all got up from their seats and slowly moved towards the door, ready to attack.
The door burst open with a loud Boom and a shout along the lines of, "Hey, What are you guys cooking it smells nice." Nami faced palmed as the three of the boys all sweat dropped and quickly took their seats. Garp strode into the room and went over to the cabinets, looking through all of them to find some rice crackers. The crew sat in silence hesitant of what Garp wanted.
Luffy didn't seem to disturbed by the situation. "Gigi, Why are you here." Luffy asked with a mouth full of food.
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Uh… not really, well I know that you are looking for either doughnuts or rice crackers."
"He means what are you doing on our ship, umm, Garp sir." Sanji said trying to be polite, it is Garp how are you supposed to act around him.
"Oh well I sent my officers back to headquarters so I could come with you guys." His voice was muffled because he had his head stuffed inside a cabinet. There was a chorus of "WHAT!" from the others. "You are my grandson Luffy I need to keep an eye on you and I think it's time I go say hi to –oww" when he pulled his head out of the cabinet he hit his head creating a large bump.
"But what if I don't want you to come along with us?" Luffy said with a pout.
"Well that's just too bad then." Garp opened a draw and gave a little cheer as he drew out a bag of rice crackers. He plopped himself on the floor and instantly started eating them, getting crumbs all over the floor. Sanji grimaced at the mess he was making and mumbled, "Oh god it is just like an old Luffy."
