Instead of sleeping like Luffy told Ace she would, Luffy left her room and snuck through the nymphs home and out into the forest. She wanted to see Zoro, and assumed he was on watch again, waiting for him. Well, she wasn't going to disappoint him. Especially when he was leaving the day after tomorrow. She'd probably never see him again. Maybe that was good, a small part of her thought. But the rest of her shut that thought down. She wanted him to be hers. Only hers.
Luffy didn't head towards the peak. She wanted to surprise him. Payback for when he had snuck up on her a couple nights ago. So she went to the far side of the dock, able to see his back to the sea and towards the island. She was a bit nervous about falling into the water, but she'd done things like this before to sneak onto ships and steal their weapons.
She crawled along the sides of all of the docked ships, the side facing the ocean, by digging her sharpened fingers and toes into the wood, like a squirrel would climb a tree. She slowly worked her way around the harbor, hoping Zoro wouldn't hear her.
When she reached the Going Merry, she carefully and slowly climbed up the side, near the sheep's head figure head. He was obviously distracted by something, so she softened her fingers and toes to quietly bring herself onto the railing. He still didn't notice her.
Finally, she pounced, landing on his back and holding on tightly. He jumped and shouted in surprise. His eyes narrowed in embarrassment and irritation as he realized who the tiny hands belonged to. He went to grab her, but she ran around him, running away. He grinned and chased her. She was barefoot tonight, her shoes resting on the deck a few ships away.
He couldn't keep up with her as she climbed up the mast and to the crow's nest. He smirked at her from below. She was trapped unless she walked along the sails, but he'd still get her from below if she did that.
Luffy giggled silently as she waited for him to follow her up. He was much louder than she was on his climb up the rope. When he finally got up into the elevated empty space, he grabbed her around the waist.
"That was payback, wasn't it?" Zoro questioned. Luffy grinned and nodded. "Well, you got me. Better not tell anyone I made that noise, got it?"
Luffy smiled at his embarrassment and nodded her head. She created the black pen she'd been using to write on stuff to talk to him, and wrote, "Wanna fight?" on the wooden surface next to her. Zoro frowned and shook his head, surprising Luffy. He liked fighting her and Ace, so why would he turn her down? She looked at him, a bit confused.
"Can I just… hold you? For a little bit? Is that okay?" Zoro questioned awkwardly. Luffy grinned and nodded, sitting down in his crossed legs. They didn't say anything or write anything, just enjoying being together like this.
Eventually, Luffy fell asleep in his warm embrace, leaning up against his chest. He rested his chin on top of her head gently. Another thing she fit perfectly to him. He sighed softly. He really cared about her. He'd never felt this way about anyone, not even Kuina. She had reminded him of Kuina at first, but now he knew she was nothing like Kuina, and he liked that.
Robin closed her eyes and sighed, having seen Luffy and Zoro interact. She had a feeling she'd be asked if she could join the crew. She wasn't against it because of anything Luffy had done, but she was worried about how the other nymphs would react. Robin really had no idea what they would think of where Luffy had been going at night, if they even cared. She just hoped Luffy hadn't been seen with Zoro intimately.
If she were asked by Zoro to let Luffy stay, she'd say yes. Zoro had never found someone he liked being close to, and she wasn't going to take that away after he finally found someone to open up to and enjoy company with. And to love. It was obvious by the way Zoro looked at Luffy, that he had fallen in love with her, how long they'd known each other didn't matter.
She still found it funny the first time she had officially met Zoro, she'd beat him, knocked him out and stolen something precious to him. Though, maybe that's where it all started. That first fight. Everyone knew Zoro loved fighting, and he always won with other opponents, Mihawk not included. But Luffy had bested him two times. She assumed another thing Zoro liked about Luffy was that her size meant nothing to her. She was small, but she didn't let that dictate her actions in a negative way.
Zoro had met his match. In more ways than one.
"Luffy, Luffy wake up," Zoro said, beside the tired nymph's ear. It was still dark outside, but she could see the sky was slowly lightening. She'd slept in his lap all night! Crap, what would Ace think?
Luffy looked up at Zoro and felt her face grow hot. The way he was looking at her was with adoration. It was such a huge change from that scowl that was directed towards her when they first came into contact, when she stared at his swords that she wanted. She smiled back, soaking in that expression she was giving her. Then Zoro cleared his throat, starting to speak.
"Luffy… Um, well - I wanted to ask you… if you'd come with us? Come with me?" Luffy's eyes widened. She looked shocked. "I mean, you don't have to. I was just wondering if y- you wanted to…?" he stuttered awkwardly. It was cute.
Before he had to talk anymore, Luffy pulled him down and kissed him softly, but deeply. It was nothing like the heated kisses they shared that night that she and Zoro had spent so much time together.
This was Luffy's way of saying yes. She wanted to go with him, and just then realized she'd been waiting and wanting for him to ask for what felt like a long time. She'd miss Ace very much, but she wanted to go on adventures with the human she'd fallen in love with. She wanted change in her life. Fun, other than stealing from people.
The thought of Ace coming with her passed, but she knew he wouldn't. He'd always hated her growing up next to him. He was only a few hours older, but he'd always been and always would be her big brother. But, he'd eventually be happy for her finally finding something she wanted to do, even if it wasn't with him.
She wondered what the nymphs were going to do about it. No one had really paid attention to her late night absences. Not even Makino, who knew Luffy and Ace were absent at night sometimes, but she didn't like being nosey; even when it was with her younger siblings.
But… She was going to be leaving the island with humans, eventually going to show them her abilities. It was a liability. Nymphs were always very secretive and anti-social with humans. But now Luffy was having a relationship with one of them, soon to abandon her kind to sail away with him and his crew of random humans. How was she going to do this?
Zoro looked at her with that expression again. He wanted to tell her, but what if it made her uncomfortable? He didn't know whether it was too soon to say it. That he loved her. Part of him had loved her during that first fight. That's what started it all. Luffy had been the one to begin it, that little thief and her dirty tactics.
She must have seen what was on his face, and that he was struggling, so she took pity on him. She wrote on the wood, I love you, too. He blushed. She made the first move again. She turned around in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her face in the crook of his neck and shoulder, her chin barely able to even reach that high.
He put his hands against her upper back and head, securely holding her against him tightly. He noticed that she smelled good in this position. He couldn't place it, but it was nothing like the perfume or hair products the women on the ship used. It smelled like something natural. Well, Luffy did live somewhere in the woods after all.
They stayed in the comfortable embrace for a while, both of them breathing in the scent of the other. Then, Luffy looked over Zoro's shoulder to the dock far below them. There was a very angry big brother, staring straight at her. She flushed and slowly exited the embrace.
Zoro looked behind him and his eyes widened. Ace looked pissed. Luffy wrote, I'll come back later and then dropped onto deck from the crows nest, hurrying to the dock and up to Ace. Zoro watched as Ace looked at her in irritation, obviously scolding her in a way Zoro couldn't hear. He felt bad for Luffy, who looked down in shame as she was scolded. Then Ace practically dragged Luffy away from the Going Merry and towards the woods. Zoro sighed, and climbed down to the deck and walked into the galley as the sun finally rose.
"We didn't do anything! I just fell asleep! Besides, he wouldn't do anything to me I didn't want him to!" Luffy said, trying to convince Ace that they hadn't done inappropriate activities. She pulled her arm from Ace's tight grip. "I love him, Ace!" she shouted. "Why can't you see that? And you can tell he loves me, too!"
Ace pursed his lips. "But he's a human, Luffy! Why can't you see what kind of man he can be?"
"That's right! He can be. He hasn't been that man, or any man besides one that loves someone else. He loves me and I want to be with him. Please, don't be mad. It hurts to see you mad at me for being happy with the person I fell in love with," Luffy pleaded.
Ace looked at her sadly, also somewhat guiltily. "Why would you want to get so close with him when he's leaving tomorrow?" he asked, finally calmed down and not furious anymore.
"I'm going with him," Luffy said, her head tall and looking completely serious. "I'm going on adventures with him and his family." Ace looked shocked, and then horrified. He didn't want her to leave him.
"When did you decide something this huge?" he asked her quietly. Luffy couldn't leave him! Then he'd be stuck with only Makino. Luffy was his favorite person in the world. He couldn't lose her. But he also knew this was something he could not force Luffy to undo. She had made up her mind, and she wouldn't be changing it anytime soon.
"When he asked me. Right before he told me he loved me." Then she looked at him sadly. "I love you, and will miss you, but this is what I want to do in my life. I want to be with him. I'll be a pirate!" Ace still looked unconvinced. "Think of how you regret not being with Marco."
"That's not the same. Marco is a nymph," Ace countered.
"And a male! How is it not the same? They're both forbidden! I'm just taking my chance. I won't bury my feelings and let him leave, never to see me again. I won't Ace. You can't stop me. I just want you to support me. I don't want to leave with you angry with me."
"When do you leave?" Ace asked, secretly hurt by what Luffy had just said. He felt she threw something really personal at him, but it made her point clear. She would have no regrets. Not like Ace had.
"Sometime tomorrow," Luffy replied. "I'm sorry about such short notice, but I'll spend the rest of the day with you. But… I'll have to come back to see what time tomorrow. Please come with me and at least tell Zoro that he's a lucky guy, or something civil. It would hurt to have my family not like him."
Ace nodded. "Everyone is not going to be happy about or support this, Luffy. It's never happened before, so I don't know how everyone will react. You're leaving with precious information. I know you'd never come back and let humans expose us. I know you'd banish them before doing that, even though you love him." Ace looked worried.
"I don't want to think about that right now. I just want to spend time with you. Okay?" Luffy asked as she hugged Ace. Ace nodded.
The two left to go to their beach, neither saying so. That was just where they were both heading.
Zoro was sad as he watched Luffy and Ace silently argue. She looked defiant and like she wasn't going to do what Ace said. And when he looked at Ace's face, he knew the nymph was in emotional pain. He and Luffy were obviously very close. As Luffy hugged Ace tightly, Zoro felt guilt well up in his gut. But, even if it hurt Ace, he wouldn't take back his invitation. Not now that he knew Luffy wanted to come, to be with him. Zoro hoped Luffy would never regret setting sail with Zoro and the crew. He would do his best to make sure that day never came.
Then he realized he'd invited Luffy to come without asking the captain. If Robin said no, Zoro wasn't sure what he'd do… He didn't want her to let her slip through his fingers. No way.
Sanji had come out of the men's cabin and went to the galley to start working on breakfast, while Zoro walked close to the room as well. But he didn't go inside, and just sat against the wall, trying to nap. But he couldn't sleep, not when he didn't know what Robin would say to Luffy joining, before Zoro had even asked her. Based on what she had said the night she figured about his and Luffy's romance, he didn't know if she'd approve.
When the other two boys came out of the men's cabin, they saw Zoro sitting against the galley wall, a faraway look on his face, and chewing his lip. He looked… nervous? Neither Usopp nor Chopper had seen him like this. Chopper could guess it had to do with Luffy. He hoped it was that Luffy was invited to the crew. Chopper led Usopp into the room for breakfast, which was done, to leave Zoro alone to his thoughts and worries.
Robin came out before Nami, and Zoro immediately stood up. He walked over to her quickly, asking her in hushed tones if he could speak to her alone. She knew what he was going to ask, though.
"Can Luf -" he began nervously.
"Yes. But we should learn if the crew likes her. I don't want someone joining who doesn't click with everyone else." Zoro gave a small smile and walked with her into the galley to wait for everyone to be seated. Zoro nervously tapped his fingers on the table, brought to attention by everyone.
Once breakfast was served (pancakes with eggs and potatoes), Zoro inhaled his food and then waited impatiently for everyone to finish theirs. He then started tapping his foot, which was annoying everyone.
"Do you have something to say?" Nami asked irritably. Zoro looked to Robin and then away and to the wall. He wore a scowl, becoming embarrassed about what Robin was going to tell them. He'd get mercilessly teased by Nami, and cold and woman-loving remarks from Sanji. Usopp would just seem confused or laugh. Chopper was already happy that Zoro and Luffy liked each other, and Robin liked Luffy, too. Not just because she was an interesting species. Luffy was cute and sweet to talk to. Not to mention she was a tiny badass. She had also tamed Zoro, which was impressive.
"Zoro asked Luffy to join the crew. Before I say yes, I want to know everyone's thoughts on this," Robin explained, taking a sip of her coffee. Everyone was shocked and looked to Zoro, who looked thoroughly embarrassed and uncomfortable. Chopper was first to answer, taking pity on the poor man.
"I like her. I would be happy if she stayed," the reindeer said enthusiastically.
"I don't have a problem, really," Usopp said. Luffy seemed a bit grumpy at the dinner table last night, but that negative emotion was gone once the meal was over. She still didn't seem to like Sanji. He assumed the nymph didn't like how Sanji treated women he met. But she seemed like a cool person, and he was excited to see her abilities, which remained a mystery to he thought was the whole crew.
"I don't have a problem either. She saved me, and it will be nice to have another female on board, especially one that can kick ass," Nami commented, looking at Zoro suspiciously. His cheeks were a tad red. Did he really like Luffy? As in romantic like? It seemed unthinkable that Zoro could love someone. "And she's so cute!" she added with a squeal.
Sanji didn't look happy. "And why did you invite my Luffy-chan to join the crew?" he asked angrily, like Zoro had done something wrong.
However, Sanji's comment infuriated Zoro, and he couldn't stop the words that came out of his mouth. "She's not yours, she's mine!" Then he closed his mouth and pursed his lips, angry that he blew up and then practically announced he had feelings for Luffy. Crap. But he couldn't let it slide when Sanji said that. Luffy was not going to be flirted with or hit on. She also was not going to like Sanji saying he needed to protect the ladies. Zoro had no doubt Luffy could mop the floor with Sanji in a minute.
Everyone stared at him, Robin closing her eyes with a small smile. Chopper was smiling, while Usopp and Sanji were shocked.
Nami giggled. "I was right! You like her. Are you having a relationship? Did you kiss? Do you love her? Does she love you?" Nami bombarded a red-faced Zoro.
"Shut up! Does everyone not have a problem with her joining?" Zoro snapped. Everyone nodded, though Sanji looked angry but also slightly shocked. The Marimo had fallen in love? It made no sense to him. Plus, he'd thought Zoro was gay or asexual based on his disinterest in beautiful women. He hoped Luffy would end up liking him, since it was clear she was uncomfortable and suspicious around him.
"So, when is she coming back?" Nami asked, thoroughly enjoying Zoro's still embarrassed expression. But she was happy for him. When she looked at Sanji, the man looked depressed and angry. Poor Sanji. Zoro found love before he had. No one saw that coming.
"Later today. She's gonna spend time with Ace for a while." He looked sad at this, and everyone knew why.
"He's gonna really miss her…" Chopper said sadly. Nami and Usopp also looked down at the prospect of Luffy leaving her brother behind.
"He'll get over it. He's strong," Zoro stated. "He may love Luffy, but I saw his face while they argued. He was sad, but he knew he'd lost whatever fight they had been having."
"Why do you act like you know them so well? You haven't even been around Luffy-chan that much," Sanji said sourly.
"She's been coming over every night. While you were sleeping, I was with a beautiful woman. Poor dart-brow," Zoro said with a fake sigh, like it was oh so sad that Sanji missed out. Sanji's face grew red in anger that Zoro was pressing all the right buttons to piss him off.
"You better not treat her badly -" Sanji began angrily.
"And you better not sexually harass her or flirt with her. And not just because I won't like it. She'll beat your ass if you make her uncomfortable. She already feels that now," Zoro said with a flat voice.
"Well, she did not look happy around Sanji, and looked at him suspiciously," Usopp pointed out. "She probably didn't like how you treated women, human or not. I don't think excessive flirting is a way to get girls to like you," he said. Sanji scowled at the table.
"You should take relationship advice from Zoro," Robin said, looking at Sanji in pity but also amusement.
"I don't need advice from a barbarian like him! Who knows what he does to Luffy-chan when it's just them at night!" Sanji accused, making Zoro glare at him in irritation.
"Oh, I don't think Luffy falling asleep in his lap for a couple hours is anything inappropriate enough to worry about," Robin commented casually. Zoro felt the urge to cover his face as it turned a dark red in embarrassment about private things between him and Luffy being exposed. Shit! If Robin knew, that meant she was spying on him! Before he could blow up at her, Nami spoke up.
"Awwww…" Nami cooed. "That's so cute! I guess there's a gentle side to you after all," she said with a soft smile. Zoro huffed at her words, wanting this conversation to end or at least take a different direction.
"So, where will Luffy sleep?" Usopp asked.
"She is not sleeping in the men's room with Marimo!" Sanji shouted. Zoro would probably do something bad to Luffy-chan while she slept. Luffy-chan could do so much better than Zoro. She beat the shit out of Zoro, so maybe this was really payback. Having her stuck out on a ship with him so he could make her miserable.
"Well I don't trust her to be in the men's room with us anyways. Well, with you. I don't want you giving her pervy looks while she tries to sleep. 'Creepy blonde guy'," Zoro said with a smirk.
"That's a new insult, Zoro. Not too good though," Usopp commented. It wasn't a very vicious insult. Zoro chuckled.
"No, that's what Luffy called Sanji when she didn't know his name. You really made a bad first impression, love-cook. Maybe if you didn't look at women like you were a salivating dog looking for food, she wouldn't be uncomfortable around you," Zoro said heartlessly. Sanji visibly deflated.
"Don't worry, Sanji. I'm sure you can make it up to her if you act like a gentleman," Robin said as she took pity on the man. Luffy was a beautiful female, so having her dislike Sanji is a new thing for him. Robin and Nami were both attractive, but they liked him. Not in a romantic way, but they didn't not like him, though his flirting could be annoying sometimes.
"Luffy can sleep with us if she wants. We can buy a new mattress at the next town we get to. Until then, she could share the bed with me or Robin. She is pretty small after all. She could probably fit fine." Robin agreed with her.
"You don't have to buy her anything," Zoro said offhandedly. Luffy could just create anything she wanted. She could make duplicate of the bed she had at her current home. But the others didn't know about that power, so were confused, and one was angry.
"What, is she supposed to sleep on the floor, Marimo?" Sanji demanded. No woman should ever have to sleep on the floor! Zoro looked confused for a moment.
"Don't get your panties in a twist, you'll know what I'm talking about later," Zoro snapped.
"Is it one of her abilities?" Robin asked eagerly. Usopp looked shocked.
"Why do you know what her abilities are?! That's not fair!" he shouted, jealous that Zoro had seen the magic that no human was supposed to see.
"Because she trusts me. She didn't even know you all when she showed me, so why would she reveal things like that to a group of near strangers?" Zoro asked. Robin smiled, excited to see what the nymphs could do. "Besides, you'll see it soon," he added.
"How have you been communicating with her, Zoro?" Chopper asked. He could talk with her just fine, but how was she and Zoro together when she couldn't even speak to him?
"She writes what she can't say. It seems like it's working just fine," Zoro replied. "At least she won't be loud or annoy everyone."
"We should throw a welcome party!" Chopper said optimistically. "With her favorite foods and deserts. Sanji you can make that cake again! But this time it won't get moldy," he said. Zoro smirked as Sanji shouted there was no reason for it to have gotten moldy in the first place.
"What the hell is so funny, shitty Marimo?!" Sanji snapped. Zoro waved his hand as if it were nothing, though he still looked at the flustering Sanji like he was amusing. Which he was.
"We don't know her favorite foods yet, though. We can't have a banquet with food she doesn't like," Usopp pointed out.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Robin said, and the crew then discussed what things were going to have to change for Luffy once she became just one more misfit going on their journey through the Grand Line.
"Ace?" Luffy asked, leaning against her brother as they sat on a cliff near their beach as they watched the waves below them.
"Hmm?"
"What are you going to do after I leave?"
"I… I think I'll talk to Marco. I can't let my little sister outdo me in the romance department after all. And if he says no, then that's that. I'll make sure we stay friends, and that I'm fine if he doesn't feel the same way, though it'd be nice if he did," Ace confessed. "You have inspired me, and I'm going to do whatever I can to get you safely off of this island." Luffy smiled. "But you have to promise me that you'll stay safe. I never want to hear from somewhere that you had died, since I'm sure you'll get a high bounty pretty soon from your monster strength and all."
"I hope so! That would be awesome." Then she frowned. "Do you think the rest of the crew like me?" she asked uneasily. "I don't want everyone to dislike me."
"I'm sure that, if everyone didn't like you, you wouldn't have been offered to join."
"But Zoro asked me. What if Robin doesn't approve? What if I get to the ship, packed and ready, only to be told that they changed their minds?"
"Then they don't deserve to have you on the crew. I guess we could find a way to go on our own adventure. I don't know what kind of adventure it would be, but we'd try anyway," Ace said comfortingly. "But I'm sure they liked you. And don't feel bad about not being human. Chopper is a walking, talking reindeer after all. I'm sure things will be great once you set sail with a new family… But you have to promise me I'll always be your first brother."
"I promise. You'll always be one of my most favorite people ever, no matter how many new people I meet."
"Good."
The siblings sat for a while on their last trip at their favorite spot. They said nothing for a long time, both lost in their own thoughts, and just enjoying the quiet company from one another.
"Ready to go? Then we can go home and get you packed in secret," Ace said as they dusted the sand off of their bottoms and put their shoes back on. "I think it would not be a good idea for anyone else to know about where you are going."
Luffy nodded in agreement, becoming nervous about sneaking out tomorrow. It would be more suspicious to sneak out at night instead of just walking out of their cove casually, like they did every other day. Luffy hadn't been caught sneaking out at night, but she didn't have the aura of guilt on her those times. There were some nymphs who made themselves nocturnal. They liked being out at night more than in the day time, when humans were around to see them. But, luckily, none of those nymphs cared or followed Luffy when they saw her. Nymphs weren't inherently nosey.
They reached the dock a long while later. The light was on and the door open to the galley, so she and Ace assumed the whole crew was inside. She looked to Ace before he shrugged. Luffy climbed up the side while Ace just jumped higher than Luffy was able. She swallowed nervously as she walked up the stairs to get to the open galley door, where they could now hear voices. Ace took her hand comfortingly.
"I'm here. You'll be okay," he said, knowing she must be scared the crew was having second thoughts. Though he didn't want her to leave, he'd never forgive this crew if they took back their word on something so important to his little sister.
Luffy knocked her small knuckles against the open door, visibly nervous. Zoro grinned at her and she smiled back, walking over to him immediately. Then she looked down. Did the crew know about the two yet? But Zoro knew what she was thinking and informed her that they all knew about their relationship. This made the little nymph smile.
Luffy latched herself onto Zoro's back, hanging like a baby monkey wrapped around its mother. He gave a small smile, ignoring the others that looked at him in disbelief. He was giving Luffy the softest and most genuine smile any of them had ever seen.
"Chopper, can you translate?" Zoro asked. Chopper smiled and said he would.
"'What time are you leaving tomorrow?'"
"You mean, 'we'?" Zoro asked. Luffy smiled and nodded her head against his neck and shoulder.
"Well, it seems like a storm is coming soon. But at least not until late afternoon tomorrow. Once the storm comes too close, we have to set sail. So just be here before three o'clock tomorrow," Nami explained. "I don't know what you have to do before you leave, but be careful, okay? And make sure you are here on time. Depending on the conditions, we won't be able to sail back for a while, if ever."
Luffy nodded her head. '"I'll be here'," Chopper said. Then Chopper looked to Ace. Ace wanted to talk. Luffy looked at him expectantly. He was supposed to say something nice to Zoro now. But, instead of something nice or encouraging, Ace threatened Zoro.
"'If you ever hurt her, somehow I'll find you. And you've already fought me once, so you know what I could do to you'," Chopper said, voice shaking at how scary Ace sounded. Chopper wasn't able to recreate that scary voice, but everyone could tell just how serious the threat was by the cold look on his face. Luffy frowned at him.
"I won't hurt her. I won't make her regret coming with us. And if I do, you can do whatever the hell you want to me as punishment," Zoro said strongly, surprising everyone, even Luffy. But at his words, Luffy snuggled her face into his shoulder blade.
Ace gave a single nod and then looked to Sanji. Then Chopper spoke for Ace again. "'And you, don't flirt with her like you do Nami and Robin. If you make her uncomfortable, you won't like it. And I don't mean I would hurt you, but Luffy sure as hell will'."
"Told you so," Zoro said to Sanji, who looked pale. Sanji looked to delicate-looking Luffy, trying to picture her as a menace, but it just wasn't possible for someone so small and cute to be able to hurt a strong man like Sanji!
It was as if Luffy could sense Sanji's thoughts as she gave him a menacing and sadistic smile. Sanji's eyes widened in something close to fear, and Luffy broke into a grin and silently laughed. The others in the crew that had seen the exchange smirked.
"'Don't creep me out and we can be friends. You're food tastes good though'," Chopper said for Luffy. The crew looked at Sanji, wondering how he'd handle the compliment, since he'd usually dance around and smile like a pervert. But instead, he bowed his head and kindly thanked Luffy-chan for the compliment.
Luffy and Ace suddenly looked confused. The others looked confused at their expressions as well.
"My name isn't Luffichan…" Luffy said to Ace, looking behind her at him. "Why'd he call me that?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it's a nickname?"
"Weird nickname…" Luffy said, looking at Sanji strangely.
"Humans use things called honorifics to show each other respect or how they think of someone," Chopper said, letting everyone in on what the siblings were confused about.
"Why?"
"Uh… it's just what's done. I don't know when it started. You don't have to use an honorific if you don't want to," Chopper replied.
Robin then went on to explain the basics of honorifics. Luffy decided she didn't like being called Luffy-chan because it sounded weird. Sanji visibly deflated from this.
"Hey Ace! Let's call each other 'sama' so we're both gods," Luffy joked to Ace. Ace chuckled.
"Whatever you say, Luffy- sama." Luffy grinned.
Chopper smiled at the siblings' playful banter. Luffy seemed like a fun person, and he was glad she was going to go with them. But poor Ace. Chopper could see the sadness in his expression when he looked at Luffy happily hanging onto a human's back.
"Do you two want to stay for dinner tonight?" Robin asked the two nymphs. Luffy and Ace both shook their heads at the same time.
Luffy dropped herself off of Zoro's back. "Wanna go eat some place just the two of us?"
"Shouldn't you at least spend one last meal with Makino, even if she doesn't know you are leaving?" Luffy nodded, knowing he was right. She was about to leave Makino without even telling her goodbye or where she was even going. Makino was just suffocating sometimes. And so strict, never defying rules or customs. She knew Makino would not approve of Luffy loving a human and showing him her powers. But Makino also wasn't nosey, getting in Luffy's face about her nightly absence, which Luffy was thankful for.
"Who is Makino?" Chopper couldn't help but ask.
"Our sister," Ace replied first. "She doesn't know anything about Luffy's… relationship with Zoro. She's really strict and overbearing, so she wouldn't have approved of this, any of this."
"You're not going to say goodbye to her, Luffy?" Chopper addressed Luffy, who looked slightly ashamed.
"I'll tell her I love her but she won't know about me leaving. She'd try to stop me," Luffy explained. Ace looked at her in slight irritation.
"Luffy's leaving it up to me to tell her about everything. She'll blame me for not stopping her… But, if this makes Luffy happy, then I'll deal with the aftermath," Ace sighed. Luffy hugged him.
"You're a good brother, Ace. We're sorry you have to say goodbye to Luffy." Chopper almost asked him if he'd come too, but he knew it would make Ace hurt more if he asked that. For some reason, he could understand their feelings clearer than he could with humans. Even though they were similar, nymphs made more sense to him. It was interesting. He was sure Robin would find it interesting as well.
None of the crew asked in on what the three were talking about. They'd learn later.
Ace nodded his head in thanks. "C'mon Luffy, let's go." Luffy kissed Zoro's cheek and then quickly walked to Ace and waved goodbye as they turned out of the galley's view.
"Well that was cute," Nami said, thinking of Luffy latching onto Zoro's back. "I've never seen you smile like that before, Zoro."
"There's never been anything good enough for me to smile like that for," Zoro replied flatly, back to his cold and boring self. Sanji scowled and looked away. Luffy seemed like a nightmare for Sanji. He couldn't flirt with her or call her cute names without risking pain from multiple people.
Nami was looking forward to seeing Zoro like that more, and sadistically would enjoy watching Sanji flounder around her awkwardly. She noticed Chopper looking sad.
"So what were you guys talking about?" she asked him.
"They have a sister named Makino, and she's really strict and wouldn't approve of any of this. Ace said that he'd end up having to deal with the aftermath but if it made Luffy happy then he'd do it. I feel bad that we're separating them…" Chopper finished sadly.
"They're both adults. They can't stay together forever," Sanji said.
"We don't know that. We don't know anything about them in general. They have to all live in the same place or at least near together. Therefore, they would always be together in some way. It seems Luffy is the first nymph to be in a situation like this. At least based on the behavior of Ace and the information in the books I have read. We're in uncharted territory. The sooner we leave, the better. For both our sakes and Luffy's. All that needs to happen now is for her to come here tomorrow and we can set sail."
"I'm happy Luffy is coming with us!" Chopper exclaimed.
"She could easily get a bounty higher than mine and Robin's," then Zoro looked to Sanji. "Don't feel too bad if she can kick your ass," he said in amusement.
"I want to try my weapons against her," Usopp said, wanting to see what the nymph thought of his weapons.
"You can't fight with a lady like that!" Sanji said on habit. Everyone looked exasperated with this. Even Robin looked slightly irritated.
"You would be best if you didn't say things like that in Luffy's company," Robin told him, taking her final sip of coffee. "Like both Ace and Zoro have said, Luffy is quite strong despite her small frame and gentle appearance."
"She could beat you in a second," Zoro said, sounding bored but also slightly smug. He would love to see that, but then Luffy would have to heal him, and Zoro didn't want her caressing anyone but him in any way. But, if it was for the women or Chopper, then fine. But not Sanji or even Usopp.
"I doubt that. She beat you, but I'm stronger than your awkward ass," Sanji snapped back.
"So awkward I got a partner before you, even though you're the one that flirts and chases skirts all the time," Zoro said maliciously.
"You stop holding that above my head! Luffy will eventually like me more! I know it!" Sanji yelled, pissed that Zoro kept playing on his intense jealousy.
"I don't think that will happen, Sanji-kun. She already thinks you're never ending flirting is not a good thing. But at least she likes your cooking," Nami said kindly. "Plus, I don't think it would be safe for you if you did try to win her over. Especially when the people you're offending are as strong as monsters."
"I agree with Nami. I don't want you to piss either of them off," Usopp interjected.
Zoro replied to Usopp, "She won't hurt you if you're not the one who pisses her off. She might not even do anything to dart-brow, but that doesn't mean she for sure wouldn't. We'll just have to see." Everyone was surprised how much Zoro was speaking. He hadn't replied with only a grunt a single time.
"It's nice you found someone to love. Finally," Robin said sweetly, causing Zoro to blush.
"I can't wait to see you blush all the time. Never thought big bad Pirate Hunter would be one to blush when embarrassed," Nami teased. Zoro glared at her and told her to shut it.
It was late evening by the time the crew was done talking, and dinner hadn't even begun. So Sanji decided they'd have subs, like they had a few days ago. But no one complained.
"You'll be feeding one more mouth by tomorrow night," Nami pointed out. Saji couldn't help but smile. Hopefully he'd win Luffy over as at least a friend by cooking her good food. He wondered what nymphs ate, and how they prepared their meals. Another mystery he was excited to unravel.