"I think maybe I'm just cursed. I've racked my brain, and it's the only logical conclusion I've come up with," Reese said dramatically.

Ririka laughed gently, as she continued to prepare ingredients for dinner later. "I'm sure there is an actual, logical reason Reese."

"Really?" Reese asked. "because I can't find it." She went closer and hopped up to sit on the counter next to where Ririka was working. Reese continued, recounting the facts. "One, I invite nice friendly people to come into town and have a meal with me. Two, said people agree. Three, said people then do not show, and four, said people are suddenly too busy to speak to me ever again." She rested her elbow on her leg and put her head in her hand. "And it keeps happening, it's not like it is an isolated incident. The only other answer I can think of… is something is wrong with me," she said. Then quickly raised her head again. "But I don't believe that, so obviously, I'm cursed."

Ririka had stopped her chopping to smile at Reese. "Well, I cannot fault your logic. Though, I still think something else is going on."

"Why not just drag the next one in right away, instead of making plans for later?" C.C. said as she walked into the kitchen.

They laughed with her. "That would be quite the sight, wouldn't it?" Reese said. "Me pulling in some unsuspecting person saying, "no we're eating now!" I can see it will go great!" she said with a grin.

"You know you can always just stop asking," C.C. said. "You don't need a date that badly, right?"

Reese laughed at her sarcastic tone. "It's not that, and you know it. I just want, you know, some friends." she looked at them stricken by the implication of what she just said. "You two are the best, you know that, right? But, I was hoping to have some friends my age to spend some of my time with." That didn't sound any better. "I mean…"

"We understand." Ririka said, squeezing Reese's shoulder.

"Yes, we do" C.C. added. "But if they treat you like this, then they are not worth it, all right?" she asked.

"Thanks," Reese said with an emotional smile. "You two really are the best!"

"Of course we are," C.C. said, then pulled Reese towards the back door. "Why don't you go take a walk?" she said. "Go clear your head, so you'll be of use to me during dinner. We'll be busy then, and I need you at your best."

"Okay, if you're sure," Reese replied.

"I'm sure, now get out" she said as she pushed her out the door.

Reese couldn't help but smile. People around town had many words to describe C.C. but not many knew her as Ririka and she did. C.C. acted as though she was selfish, but she would move mountains for those she cared about.

Reese decided she wanted to enjoy the meadows and farmland just outside the edge of town, and took only a small detour to grab an apple from Corbin as a snack. She was whistling as she walked around the building and over to his stand.

"Excuse me," she heard someone say.

She turned and looked over to see a guy in with a bandanna on his head, dark pants and a white shirt that was open at the neck, and short sleeves which showed off his muscles.

"Yes?" she answered, flipping a coin over to Corbin, and ducking in front of the stall so he couldn't throw it back. The guy gave her a strange look, but she simply smiled.

"Can you point me to a restaurant? I've been looking all over and can't seem to find one," he said, and Reese gave him a quizzical look, and pointedly looked across the street at the restaurant before looking back at him. He seemed serious and determined, however, so she thought maybe he had just missed it or come from the opposite direction.

"Sure," she answered as she stood again. "There is one right across the street there, on the left." She pointed over to the place.

"Thanks," he said and walked away with a wave of his hand.

"Hmm, weird" she muttered, and turned back to Corbin to collect an apple, refusing to take back the beri she used to pay for it. In response, he gave her two apples instead of one. She looked crossly at it, before realizing that she probably wouldn't eat again until after dinner service was finished, so she took it and waved, starting off toward the edge of town.

Reese walked briskly and tossed one of her apples up in the air and catching it as it fell, like a baseball. She made it out to the small meadow and leaned on the fence while she ate the fruit, enjoying the quiet scenery. As nice as it was to get away, she was still upset, and confused. First Greg, then Charlie… then Yoku, Jerry, and most recently Shiro. It didn't make any sense, that every single one of them would suddenly decide to shun me… but none of them would even talk about it, simply saying they were too busy to talk, too busy to see me, just… too busy, she thought.

"Hey!"

A shout brought Reese out of her depressing thoughts, and she turned to see the muscle guy from before stalking towards her with a large scowl.

"Um, yes?" she asked, wondering what had made him angry.

"Those were the worst directions ever," he said, and her mouth dropped open in shock. He's joking, right?

"Wait, you missed the restaurant, so you went the opposite direction to come and tell me my directions were bad?!" she said in unbelief. "That's crazy!"

"No," he corrected her. "I followed your directions, and ended up out here!"

Whoa, this guy must have the worst sense of direction ever, or he is playing a major joke on me. I wonder if C.C. put him up to this to cheer me up in some weird way. As she thought, his stomach made a huge growling noise, even more apparent in the quiet. Her eyes went wide, and he looked at her in embarrassment, blushing slightly.

Reese felt her whole idea of him shift. Most guys she knew would never look embarrassed, let alone blush in front of her, they liked to think they were too manly for that. She bent down and picked up her other apple, and held it out to him.

"No, that's-"

"Just take it, I already ate one, and this one is an extra," she replied even as she stepped up and threaded her arm through his, enjoying the guarded look he gave her. "Seriously, it will make up for my... bad directions," she used air quotes with her fingers, but he missed that as he nodded and immediately started inhaling the apple.

Reese pulled on his arm to get him walking along with her, and she smiled as he kept his hand in his pocket, but didn't try to shrug her arm off. "I'm headed to the restaurant myself, so I'll take you there. Oh, and my name is Teresa," she added. "But you can call me Reese."

"Roronoa Zoro," he said in between chewing.

"Nice to meet you, Zoro" she said. "and I'm sorry, but I have to ask… what's up with the three swords?"

"Hmm?" he asked with his mouth full, turning his head to look at her.

"I mean, are you just trying to look intimidating? Or do you normally break one so you carry a spare? Or do you wait to decide which to use by who you are fighting?" Her mind was whirling with the possible reasons of having three.

He swallowed before answering. "No, I use a three sword style of fighting, so I use all of them at once."

She blinked at the unexpected answer. "Seriously? How do you hold the third one?" she asked, curiosity peaked.

"With my teeth," he smirked at her. Her eyebrow quirked up, as she considered the picture of swords in both hands and one in his mouth, and shrugged.

"Interesting," she said, staying quiet as she took the information in. "Are you good?" she asked.

"Yes," he said, though not arrogantly, only as if it were fact. "And one day, I'll be the best." Reese nodded with a smirk of her own. "Why don't you have a weapon?" he asked her, looking her up and down.

"There's a marine base on the island," she answered.

"And?" he asked, and he rose in her estimation again. He was smart, and able to understand what she wasn't saying.

"The marine captain believes only marines and criminals need weapons," she said, and he nodded and fell silent. She decided then to lighten the subject matter. "By the way, I'd better warn you that I'm cursed," she said, waving her hand to indicate how spooky it was.

"Cursed?" he asked with a disbelieving look on his face.

"It's true," she sighed dramatically. "Everyone I invite to the restaurant ends up going hungry."

"What happens to them?" he asked with a smirk, hearing her teasing tone.

"No one knows," she wiggled her fingers in front of herself again. "They simply never arrive."

"Perhaps it was your directions," he deadpanned.

There was a pause, then she burst out laughing. "Oh, I set you up perfectly for that one!" she laughed, and he chuckled along with her.

"I'm not afraid of curses," he said as she led him up to the restaurant. He opened the door and gestured her in first, and she beamed at him.

Dinner wasn't very busy, so Reese was able to spend some time talking to Zoro as he ate. It was a treat for her to be able to talk to someone new, even though he wasn't a very talkative person. After hearing someone else call him a pirate hunter, she went and insisted on stories about pirates he had caught. He didn't seem to embellish anything, and only told the basics, but she was still fascinated. It was the first she had heard about the world outside of this island, and she was determined to get as much information as possible.

She kept bringing him food to keep him in his chair at the bar, and eventually he refused any more, though he never refused refills on his drink. And he kept insisting to pay her back once he got another pirate bounty, though she would wave it off.

Later, when she was in the kitchen Reese heard the commotion. It sounded like muffled screams, and mean laughter. She went out to see what was happening, and saw a large wolf dog going from table to table scaring people and eating messily from their plates while the captain's son simply laughed at them all.

Without realizing it, Reese's hands became fists at her sides. This moron brought trouble everywhere he went, and he did it on purpose just because he could. He looked over to Reese with a smirk, saying "anyone who tries to stop him will be executed." The two marines behind him just looked around for a place to sit.

Reese started toward him, ready to punch him in the face, when she was stopped. Looking down, she saw Zoro's hand on her arm. She looked up at him, and saw him shake his head, but she was not to be deterred. She ripped her arm away from Zoro just as Rika came out of the back with a broom, heading towards the dog, and Reese moved quickly to head her off.

The little girl started to swing her broom at the dog, yelling "Shoo!" and showing no fear. Reese grabbed it from her and pulled her behind herself, just as the animal turned, baring his teeth and snarling.

"Rika!" they could hear Ririka cry from the kitchen doorway.

"Good dog," Helmeppo said, as he sauntered over to the girls.

"What are you doing here?" Reese demanded though her eyes didn't move from the dog. "I thought you hated this restaurant."

"I'm tired of waiting for my invitation," he replied cockily. She looked at him in confusion, so he clarified. "Several marines received an invitation to eat here with you, but we all know the captain's son should be asked first."

The silence was telling, and he smiled at Reese, even as she snarled back. She thought of all the so called friends she had made, who were scared off of coming here because of this blond man-child in front of her, and her anger spiked again.

"That should tell you something then," she responded angrily, "but since you don't get it, I'll explain. I'd rather be executed then eat a meal with you." She heard a few gasps around her.

"You should think about what you're saying," he grit out. "It would be smart to be my friend, not my enemy. It's not worth your life."

"I'd rather be friends with the dog," she shot back with contempt, and saw his face redden with anger before he calmed himself.

"Fine, though you may regret that later," he said. "They're all yours Sora," he said to the dog as he moved to sit back down.

Her attention was quickly brought back to the dog in front of them, as it started growling and snarling openly. Rika was gripping the leg of her pants in a death lock, and all she could think as she saw the dog crouch in preparation to leap at them, was to protect Rika.

Then, a footstool came flying across the room and hit the dog right in the face. It turned toward the offender, as did the rest of the people, and they saw Zoro's back. Reese's mouth was open as she watched the dog spring, but he went after Zoro instead of her. In quick movements she could hardly process, his sword was out, the dog was hit, and he wiped off his sword before sheathing it again, and sat back down.

The room was silent as they all stared at Zoro. He just saved us, he was amazing! she thought. He was already sitting back at the bar, drinking his drink and acting like nothing had just happened. Helmeppo looked like he would explode, he was so angry.

"Who the hell are you?!" he demanded as he stalked over to Zoro.

Reese moved quickly to step in between them, arms crossed, glaring at Helmeppo. "This is my friend Zoro, the pirate hunter," she said to him and watched in pleasure as he paled. He seemed to gather his courage and he pulled out his own sword, pushing Reese aside hard enough that she fell, and he stalked over to Zoro swinging a sword towards his face.

Zoro was ready for him however, and he struck the sword with his boot, causing it fly out of Helmeppo's hand. Helmeppo's scream was cut short as Zoro's fist plowed into his face. Reese grinned as he fall back into the bar. He held his face, shocked that he had been struck, then cringed in fear as Zoro stood over him with a sword at his throat.

Reese was surprised to see him suddenly change, smirking up at Zoro. "Go ahead, but you won't be able to save your friend," he said, causing Zoro to glance at Reese before turning back to him with a glare. "My father won't take kindly to this, and she will be executed," he stated. "But…" he paused and the sly look he had made Reese very suspicious. "Perhaps we can simply handle this ourselves, between men."

Zoro said nothing, but his sword moved away from Helmeppo slightly and taking that as a sign, he continued. "Normally she would be strung up in the yard at the base. However… if you take her place say, for thirty days? I'll let her go. And because I'm such a nice guy, if you survive all thirty days, I'll let you go at the end of it too."

"What?!" Reese cried incredulously. "I didn't even do anything! It was YOUR dog that-"

"Thirty days then." Zoro agreed, interrupting her. She looked back at him in shock, ready to argue but he was already surrendering his swords to the marines.

"Zoro, you can't…" she started, trying to stand and move over to him at the same time, which was not working well.

He smirked back at her. "I've been through worse" he said, and Helmeppo laughed as the marines escorted him out.

"He says that like he thinks he'll survive," Helmeppo said quietly to Reese, then laughed again and followed the marines out the door while she just looked on, unsure of what to do.

"C.C. I don't care if you have to make something up! I need to go to the base, and make sure Zoro is still alive. If I have a delivery, then I won't be instantly suspicious!" Reese was pacing in front of her table, unable to sit still any longer. "Zoro did this in my place, the least I can do is make sure he doesn't starve to death!"

"Reese, I understand, really, I do." She spoke calmly, but it only agitated Reese further. "But you need to look at the big picture here. If you are caught, you'll be strung up beside him at best, but most likely executed."

"I don't care!" Reese yelled, exploding from stress and worry.

"Well you should!" she yelled back, which made Reese stop pacing and stare at her. "It's not just you Reese," she said quietly, commanding attention. "After executing you, they would begin looking for your accomplices, and then all of us would be in danger too…" She gave a sympathetic look, and noticing the determined look on her face, she sighed. "All right, I'll give you an actual delivery, BUT-" She paused in order to stress her conditions for her concession. "You can only get information. Absolutely no trying to sneak him food" she said, and after a moment, Reese nodded along.

"I promise," Reese said, feeling a huge weight lift from her shoulders. "Thank you, C.C.. Thank you."

Later that evening, when everyone was in bed, Reese snuck down to the kitchen, and packed a few things into a bag. She had been true to her word earlier, and did not try to get Zoro any food while she was at the base, though she had been severely tempted to.

She gritted her teeth in anger as she remembered the state he was in, tied up to a cross that was stuck in the ground, and left out in the elements for the past five days without food and very little water. He looked as though he had been beaten, and Reese had been ready to beat some marines in return.

"What are you doing?"

She whirled around, startled. "Rika!" she hissed, and shushed her. "Quiet!"

The little girl looked sheepish and tried again. "What are you doing?" she whispered. She looked at the food Reese was placing in my bag. "Sneaking food to Zoro?" she smiled, excited at the idea.

"No, Rika you can't come," Reese whispered, anticipating her question.

Apparently seven year olds are my achilles' heel, Reese thought. Though I was very glad that I had given in and let her help me. They had since snuck out three separate times and given Zoro some food and water. He tried to refuse, but he had little chance against their combined stubbornness, and finally relented.

One morning during breakfast, C.C. and Ririka stood in front of Reese frowning, and she knew she was in trouble. There wasn't anything she could say in defense, because it was true that she had endangered them. Then they banned her from the kitchen. She didn't agree, but she couldn't argue. And she could see they were scared.

Later that day, she discovered that they were more scared than she had thought. Trying to get food at the town market, and at every stall she was refused. No one would sell her food, not even Corbin, though he gave her a sorrowful look and an apology. Reese was surprised, that somehow C.C. had blocked her from continuing to help Zoro on every side.

She continued her campaign by giving Reese more deliveries and errands than she could handle, keeping her so busy that she would barely finish before the restaurant closed at night. Reese was so exhausted, that she couldn't think of trying to sneak out, even if she actually had food to take.

Rika could tell that Reese was upset, but she wasn't sure what she could do to help. Reese hadn't told her mom that she had helped sneak food to Zoro, and Rika was worried about him too. It had been ten days since they had last taken him food, and she was sure he was VERY hungry. She got so hungry if she skipped even one meal, and he had skipped days and days of food.

Zoro had saved them from that awful Helmeppo and his dog, and now he was being punished for it. What would Reese do if she were me? she thought. Probably take food to Zoro herself. Hmm… She knew her mom would never let her, so she would have to be sneaky about it… and she would have to apologize to her mom after.

"Mom?" She walked into the kitchen where her mother was preparing food for breakfast.

"Yes Rika?" she asked her.

Now or never. "I… I want to help cheer Reese up. Do you think I could help make her breakfast?"

Ririka smiled. Rika was such a kind girl, and didn't like to see anyone upset. "Sure sweetheart, what would you like to make for her?"

Rika thought for a moment. "Some rice balls?" she asked. "Would that be okay?"

"I'm sure she would love that," she replied, and Rika felt funny for tricking her, but knew this was the only way to help Reese, and Zoro. After she finished preparing her treat, she decided to just take them to Zoro right now. That way Reese couldn't get in trouble again, and she knew she couldn't go out at night alone.

Reese walked into the restaurant for lunch and saw Rika sitting by two strange, young looking guys. She headed over immediately in worry, but stopped short as the door slammed open behind her, barely missing hitting her.

Her anger felt like a volcano as Helmeppo and his two marine lapdogs walked in. He took a seat and put his feet on the table, demanding free food. All of the stress and anger of the past two weeks came to a boil and Reese stalked over to his side, and grabbed his jacket, yanking him upwards.

"YOU are not welcome here," she spit at him. "GET OUT."

He found this funny, rather than intimidating. "Are you sure about that?" he asked, smoothing his lapel where she had gripped it. "People have been executed for less," he threatened.

"I'm so SICK of your threats!" she said, her voice getting louder, as she lost control of her temper. "You're just a spoiled brat, who doesn't know how to do anything for himself and runs to daddy to solve all his problems!"

He sneered at her and said, "I'm bored," before he turned to walk away. "I suppose I'll just execute Zoro to liven things up." He turned his head back to wink at Reese, then continued out.

"Wait!" she called, furious and scared that he would actually do it. She didn't reach him, as the dark haired boy next to Rika stormed up and grabbed Helmeppo's shoulder, turning him around as his other fist slammed into his face.

Reese stopped and stared, then grinned in satisfaction as Helmeppo started screaming threats as he ran out. She turned to her mysterious benefactor, and smiling put out her hand to shake his. "I'm Teresa, but you as my newest friend, can call me Reese," she said.

"Monkey D. Luffy" he responded, and gripped her hand with a brilliant smile of his own. He pointed to the pink haired kid, "and that's Coby."

"Nice to meet you. I only wish I had been the one to punch him," she said with a sigh as Rika tugged on her hand. She looked down in question.

"Is he really going to hurt Zoro, Reese?" she asked. Before Reese could answer, Luffy did with a chuckle.

"Shi shi shi, not if we can help it!" he said and grabbed a straw hat, placing it on his head. "Let's go Coby!" saying that, he took off out the door, with Coby running behind him, trying to keep up.

Reese looked back at C.C. and saw her shake her head in answer to her unasked question, then looked back at the door wistfully. "Good luck Luffy," she said quietly. "I hope you can help him."

There had never been so many people crammed into the restaurant before, but it seemed like everyone wanted to hear them recount their fight with Captain Morgan. Coby seemed to enjoy the attention, though he also looked nervous. Zoro and Luffy kept pace with each other as they ate plate after plate of food, with Zoro succumbing to a full stomach long before Luffy finished. Several people offered C.C. money to help pay for their feast, but she refused saying their meal was on the house.

Reese continued to serve food and drinks, enjoying the atmosphere, and relishing the fact that everyone was all right. She stopped and looked around as she heard Rika say her name.

"What?" Reese asked her, coming over to where she sat.

"Coby was saying it is his dream to join the marines, just like you Reese!" she exclaimed.

Reese gave Coby a smile and said "that's because great minds think alike, right Coby?" Coby's cheeks pinked in embarrassed pleasure and Reese chuckled.

Luffy made a disappointed sound. "Sorry Zoro, guess asking her to join us won't work" he said to the pirate hunter.

"Join you?" Reese questioned.

"Yeah! My pirate crew!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to be king of the pirates!" and she smiled, though she had a weird feeling of deja vu.

"And Zoro?" she asked with a smirk.

"He's my first crew member!"

"Wait, what?" Zoro spluttered. "You don't have a crew yet?" he asked.

"Nope! It's just us." Luffy replied with a grin, and Reese grinned at Zoro's look.

"Do you even have a ship?" Zoro asked exasperated.

"Yep!" Luffy cheerfully said. "It's right there!" They all looked out toward the dock, to see a tiny rowboat with a small sail attached. Zoro groaned, and muttered "what did I get myself into?"

After that, everything happened so fast it all blurred together.

Before she knew it Coby and Reese were both signed on as marine recruits, saluting and waving goodbye with the entire town to Luffy and Zoro as they sailed away.